Pittsburgh Pirates: Weekend of Milestones Potentially on Deck for Andrew McCutchen

May 26, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter Andrew McCutchen (22)
May 26, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter Andrew McCutchen (22) / Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
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When the Pittsburgh Pirates return to PNC Park this weekend it could be a busy one featuring multiples milestones for Andrew McCutchen

When Andrew McCutchen re-signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates this past offseason there was a lot of excitement around the move from fans. Not only were fans excited to see McCutchen back in the Black and Gold, but there were plenty of career milestones on the horizon for him.

Entering the season McCutchen was within striking distance of 400 doubles, 300 home runs, 2,000 total hits, and 1,500 hits as a member of the Pirate. McCutchen has already gotten to 1,500 hits as a Pirate and could be reaching more milestones this weekend.

Through the first two months of the season McCutchen has been one of the team’s best hitters. McCutchen is hitting for a .273/.369/.453 slash line with a 125 OPS+, 124 wRC+, and a 13.3% walk rate. Putting together his best offensive season since he was last in Pittsburgh in 2017, McCutchen is a major reason why the Pirates are entering the month of June over .500 and just half a game out of first place in the National League Central.

With the St. Louis Cardinals coming to town this weekend it could be a fun and special one for McCutchen and Pirate fans. Cutch will enter the three-game series with 399 career doubles and 1,995 hits. Cutch getting the double he needs to get to 400 for his career and his five hits to reach the 2,000 milestone could very easily happen this weekend.

It is fitting that McCutchen is in position to reach multiple milestones against the Cardinals. The Pirates and Cardinals have long been rivals in the NL Central, and McCutchen has seemingly come up with one big hit after another against the Red Birds over the years.

Hell, even this year that has continued. In the lone series played between the two teams this season McCutchen launched a go-ahead, game-winning 2-run home run against the Cardinals in an extra innings victory for the Pirates at Busch Stadium.

Even if McCutchen does not reach those milestones this weekend the Pirates are about to begin a nine-game homestand. So, McCutchen should reach these milestones at some point during the upcoming homestand. Especially when he reaches 2,000 hits, it will be yet another special moment for McCutchen and Pirate fans to share together.