Andrew McCutchen spent his first nine seasons with the Pirates. He then went on to play for the Giants, Yankees, Phillies, and Brewers. After spending one season in Milwaukee, McCutchen decided to rejoin the Pirates on a one year $5MM deal. At his opening press conference he explained why he returned.
Andrew McCutchen says he saw something special in the Pirates.
McCutchen talks about how when he was a member of the Brewers, the Pirates were beating them. He says the Pirates were a part of the reason why the Brew Crew didn’t make the playoffs in 2022. He believes he saw something special.
“There is something I saw in this ballclub, specifically last year. I got to come in and play against the Pittsburgh Pirates a few times and looking from the other end, being on the Milwaukee Brewers, I’m like, ‘Man, this team is special. There’s something special about this club.’”
“They were beating us. They’re part of the reason we didn’t make it to the playoffs last year. It’s a special ballclub. So to be able to come back and help in any way that I can, I’m looking forward to it. And I’m looking forward to just being back in front of these fans in Pittsburgh and making this place that I’ve always called home be my home on the field in the ballpark again.”
McCutchen does have a point in regards to the Pirates playing well against the Brewers. In 2022, the Brewers went 11-8 against the Pirates. That’s still a winning record, but they should have won more games against a Pirates team that went on to lose 100 games last year.
Despite the 100 losses, McCutchen believes the Pirates have something special on the horizon. He also indicated in his press conference that he wants to win.
“I want to win! Real plain and simple, I want to win. But, specifically, I want to win here. I know what it feels like to win here. I know what it feels like to lose here, too. I think I can be able to be that voice in that clubhouse to those guys, to my teammates, and let them know what it feels like, what it is like, and for them to know that it’s not like it was 30 years ago.”
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