For Pirates, it will be ‘weird’ to see Andrew McCutchen wearing a Rangers uniform
The Pittsburgh Pirates are making ready to see a acquainted face this week, despite the fact that they admit that it will be uncommon for Andrew McCutchen to be wearing a totally different uniform and even a new quantity.
After spending 12 of his first 17 seasons with the Pirates, together with the previous three, McCutchen will be wearing No. 4 for the Texas Rangers when the Pirates go to Globe Life Field on Tuesday in Arlington for the beginning of a three-game sequence.
“Looking forward to seeing the person, for sure,” Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller stated. “He’s an all-time human being. Call him one in every of my good mates and probably the greatest teammates I’ve ever been a a part of. Still want he was right here, clearly, however he is not so our job is to get him out now.
“I’ll be excited to see him. It’s definitely going to be weird seeing him over there in a different uniform, but I’m glad he’s still in the game and glad we are still playing, able to compete.”
The Pirates selected not to re-sign the 39-year-old five-time All-Star and 2013 National League MVP who ranks within the high 10 in franchise historical past in most offensive classes, together with the highest 5 in dwelling runs (248, third), walks (885, fourth) and extra-base hits (644, fifth).
Instead, they opted to add three-time All-Star Marcell Ozuna to a $12 million deal in free company. McCutchen signed a minor league contract with the Rangers on March 6.
McCutchen is now not wearing his customized No. 22 that grew to become his signature for the Pirates, San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies. (He wore No. 26 for the New York Yankees and No. 24 for the Milwaukee Brewers.)
“Yeah, it’ll be different, man,” Pirates supervisor Don Kelly stated. “I think the world of him and excited for the opportunity he has there. It’ll be good to catch up with him.”
McCutchen made the Rangers’ Opening Day roster by batting .429 with 4 extra-base hits, seven RBIs and a 1.270 OPS in 9 spring coaching video games. He continued his offensive tear via his first 5 common season video games with Texas, batting .429 (6 for 14) with two doubles and 4 RBIs, together with a three-run dwelling run in opposition to the Philadelphia Phillies on March 29.
Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds has grow to be good mates with McCutchen, noting how they discovered it humorous that their careers got here full circle after they had been swapped within the commerce that despatched McCutchen to San Francisco in January 2018 and later grew to become teammates. They proceed to keep in contact, buying and selling texts all through the offseason and this spring.
“You play with somebody for that long, you get to be close with them,” Reynolds stated. “He’s been doing it forever, so I’ve picked his brain about things here and there. You play that long, you have a pretty good idea for what the strike zone is. He would very rarely just give away an at-bat. He was always grinding away at-bats. That was one of the big things, drawing walks and stuff.”
Reynolds requested McCutchen about taking part in for the Rangers, regardless of being hitless in his final 15 at-bats, with 10 strikeouts in opposition to one stroll over his final 9 video games.
“He’s enjoying it, says it’s a good clubhouse, a great group of guys,” Reynolds stated. “It’ll be good to see him. I hope he hits a bunch of balls hard for good little barrel outs.”
