Andrew McCutchen, Pirates make reunion official: 'We have a chance to come back'

The video had no words but spoke volumes. Pittsburgh Pirates equipment manager Scott Bonnett simply walked to an empty locker stall and hung a home white jersey, then walked away to reveal Andrew McCutchen’s old No. 22.

McCutchen is officially back where he began.

The Pirates formally announced Friday the signing of the five-time All-Star outfielder and 2013 NL MVP, bringing the 36-year-old McCutchen back to the team that drafted him after a five-year hiatus. The Pirates will hold a news conference at 3:30 p.m. to welcome back McCutchen, who agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract on Jan. 13.

Today. https://t.co/RSq0fjKGjp

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) January 20, 2023

McCutchen, who makes his offseason home in the North Hills, was ready to return to the Pirates. In a video the Pirates posted on Twitter, McCutchen said he was hoping for a chance to reunite with his former team.

“In the beginning, it was the outside looking in. It seemed as if my destiny to come back here was not going to happen. I didn’t think it was possible, just looking at the roster, looking at where I could fit in. I just didn’t think I had a chance, really, this year,” said McCutchen, whose wife, Maria, urged him to reach out to Pirates chairman Bob Nutting. “Anyone who knows me, knows I’m reserved when it comes to things like that. I don’t like to put myself out there. I just said, ‘I’m going to do it.’ And I did. Next thing you know, I’m getting a phone call. I have the chance. And they were like, ‘We have a place for you here.’ It seemed like, ‘Wow, I got a shot. We have a chance to come back.”

It was time for us to bring Cutch home. pic.twitter.com/JFFGeVMblS

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) January 20, 2023

With that call, the Pirates reunited with their most recent icon.

“We are thrilled to be able to reunite with Andrew. His return just feels right. It is right for our team, for Andrew and his family, for our fans and for the game of baseball,” Nutting said in a statement. “Andrew is a special player and person. It is going to be exciting to again see him take the field wearing 22 in the black and gold.”

McCutchen ranks among the top 10 leaders in Pirates history in several categories, including fourth in home runs (203), seventh in extra-base hits (539), 10th in total bases (2452), ninth in doubles (292) and 14th in games played (1346). McCutchen also ranks seventh all-time in Pirates history in games played (1327) among outfielders.

McCutchen is one of two active players, along with Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels, with at least 200 stolen bases and 200 home runs in their careers.

“Andrew means so much to the Pirates,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said in a statement. “His past

contribution to the Pirates and Pittsburgh speaks for itself. Most importantly for 2023, we believe Andrew’s on-field skill, work ethic and experience are a great fit for our team.”

The catalyst in the Pirates ending two decades of losing seasons with three consecutive postseason appearances, the popular McCutchen was traded to the San Francisco Giants in January 2018. He also has played for the New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers, and returns to lend veteran experience and a run-producing bat to a young team coming off back-to-back 100-loss seasons.

Drafted by the Pirates in the first round (No. 11 overall) in the 2005 MLB Draft out of Fort Meade (Fla.) High School, McCutchen has a .277/.369/.469 slash line with 1,948 hits, 392 doubles, 287 home runs and 983 walks in his 14-year major league career.

McCutchen batted .292/.379/.487 with 203 home runs and 725 RBIs in nine seasons with the Pirates, making five consecutive All-Star Game appearances from 2011-15, winning the NL Gold Glove in center field in 2012 and the NL MVP the following year. He finished in the top five in MVP voting four times and won four Silver Sluggers from 2012-15.

The Pirates won 94, 88 and 98 games and clinched three consecutive wild-card berths from 2013-15, beating the Cincinnati Reds in the 2013 Wild Card game at PNC Park before losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Divisional round. They lost to the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs in wild card games at PNC Park the next two years.

After going 78-83 in 2016 and 75-87 in ’17, the Pirates traded McCutchen to the San Francisco Giants for outfielder Bryan Reynolds, reliever Kyle Crick and $500,000 in international bonus pool space on Jan. 18, 2018, just two days after sending right-handed pitcher Gerrit Cole to the Houston Astros for four players.

McCutchen adds another right-handed bat to the Pirates’ lineup who can play all three outfield positions. McCutchen served as designated hitter in 82 games for the Milwaukee Brewers last season, when he hit .237/.316/.384 with 25 doubles, 17 homers and 69 RBIs in 134 games. Both the doubles and RBIs would have led the Pirates.