The Pittsburgh Pirates are preparing to see a familiar face this week, even though they admit that it will be unusual for Andrew McCutchen to be wearing a different uniform and even a new number.
After spending 12 of his first 17 seasons with the Pirates, including the past three, McCutchen will be wearing No. 4 for the Texas Rangers when the Pirates visit Globe Life Field in Arlington on Tuesday for the start of a three-game series.
“Looking forward to seeing the person, for sure,” Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller said. “He’s an all-time human being. Call him one of my good friends and one of the best teammates I’ve ever been a part of. Still wish he was here obviously, but he’s 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 chose not to re-sign the 39-year-old five-time All-Star and 2013 National League MVP who ranks in the top 10 in franchise history in most offensive categories, including the top five in home 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 agency. McCutchen signed a minor league contract with the Rangers on March 6.
McCutchen is no longer wearing his customary No. 22 that became 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 manager Don Kelly said. “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 four extra-base hits, 7 RBIs and a 1.270 OPS in nine spring training games. He continued his offensive tear through his first five regular season games with Texas, batting .429 (6 for 14) with two doubles and four RBIs, including a three-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies on March 29.
Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds has become good friends with McCutchen, noting how they find it funny how their careers came full circle after they were swapped in the trade that sent McCutchen to San Francisco in January 2018 and later became teammates. They continue to stay in touch, trading texts throughout the offseason and this spring.
“You play with somebody for that long, you get to be close with them,” Reynolds said. “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 asked McCutchen about playing for the Rangers, despite being hitless in his last 15 at-bats, with 10 strikeouts against one walk over his past nine games.
“He’s enjoying it, says it’s a good clubhouse, a great group of guys,” Reynolds said. “It’ll be good to see him. I hope he hits a bunch of balls hard for good little barrel outs.”