Andrew McCutchen, the designated hitter for the Pittsburgh Pirates, has had a sluggish start to the 2024 season. After eight games, he had only managed five hits out of 31 at-bats, along with six walks and 15 strikeouts, suggesting that the pressure of reaching a significant milestone was affecting his performance.
Starting the season with 299 home runs, McCutchen was on the brink of joining a prestigious group in baseball history: players with 300 home runs, 2,000+ hits, and 1,000+ RBIs. This milestone carries weight in the baseball community.
Fortunately, McCutchen reached the milestone over the weekend. In a game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday, McCutchen finally hit his 300th career home run, a two-run shot in the top of the ninth inning during the Pirates’ 9-2 victory. This achievement came as a relief to McCutchen, who admitted he had been anticipating it for some time.
Notably, McCutchen became only the fourth player in MLB history to reach this milestone while playing for the Pirates, following Ralph Kiner, Willie Stargell, and Jeromy Burnitz. McCutchen, now in his second stint with the Pirates, sits 24 home runs behind Roberto Clemente for the third spot on the franchise’s all-time home run list.
While hitting the milestone at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park would have been ideal for Pirates fans, McCutchen expressed satisfaction with achieving it in Philadelphia, where he spent three seasons with the Phillies. He appreciated the warm reception from the fans despite his mixed tenure with the team.
Sunday turned out to be a remarkable day for McCutchen, as he not only hit his 300th home run but also stole home during a double steal in the fourth inning, capitalizing on a throwing error by Phillies’ catcher J.T. Realmuto.
