‘Pirate Captain’ Andrew McCutchen (37), who returned to the Pittsburgh Pirates after 6 years, had an emotional homecoming match.
McCutchen started as the designated hitter No. 3 in the home opener against the Chicago White Sox in the 2023 major league held at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA on the 8th (hereinafter Korean time), and played an active role as a multi-hit with 2 hits in 5 at bats, leading Pittsburgh’s 13- 9 contributed to the victory.
His first at-bat in the first inning was the highlight. On September 28, 2017, the home crowd gave a standing ovation and chanted “MVP” toward McCutchen, who entered the plate as a Pittsburgh player for the first time in six years since the Baltimore Orioles game. McCutchen, who played nine years in Pittsburgh from 2009 to 2017 and spent his heyday as a five-time All-Star, also won the National League (NL) MVP in 2013. 먹튀검증
MLB.com said, ‘McCutchin was in no hurry to get to the plate. Referee Ryan Wills also failed to declare a pitch clock violation. Everyone understood the time for McCutchen,’ he said. ‘McCutchin went back and forth to greet the crowd and practice a few swings. He stopped at the edge of the grass, looked down at the ground, and tried not to cry,’ he said.
McCutchen pushed White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito’s first pitch and went on base with a right-handed hit, and the cheers of the fans grew even louder. It was the moment when he recorded a hit at PNC Park as a Pittsburgh player in as many as 2014 days.
“It’s been a long time coming here, and it’s a special moment,” McCutchen said after the game. He said, “I am grateful that I was able to come to Pittsburgh again and play the home opener,” he said. “I remember the first time I came here after being traded to the San Francisco Giants in 2018. This time he had only a positive impact at the plate. It felt good,” he said.
Traded to San Francisco after the 2017 season, McCutchen went through the New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers before signing a one-year, $5 million contract with Pittsburgh in January. He was welcomed by Pittsburgh fans whenever he came to PNC Park as an away player, but it was a complicated feeling.
However, he became a Pittsburgh player again after 6 years and enjoyed the cheers of the fans to his heart’s content. “I tried to keep my emotions in check, but he didn’t want to keep them in at the same time,” said McCutchen. I love the Pittsburgh fans,” he says. It’s great that he’s back in Pittsburgh to spend more time with his family.”
Although his prime has passed, McCutchen’s performance has not significantly declined. He is off to a good start with an OPS of .850 with 6 hits in 20 at bats, 7 walks, 4 strikeouts, and an on-base percentage of . Pittsburgh, which won the home opener 13-9 that day, is cruising in the early season with 5 wins and 2 losses, with a 4-game winning streak. /waw@osen.co.kr