The Pittsburgh Pirates are a team that no one is talking about this offseason.
But, that has been the case for a while.
The Pirates have not been competitive in some time and most people do not expect that to change in 2024.
Even though the Pirates have made strides to get better, they are still not ready to compete for a playoff berth.
But, that does not mean they will not be interesting to watch.
One player that will make the Pirates fun to follow is Andrew McCutchen.
He is a legendary Pirate and should one day have a statue outside their stadium.
In 2024, he is looking to set an impressive career milestone.
As noted by Talkin’ Baseball, McCutchen is one home run away from 300 for his career, and showed off his power Friday with a home run in spring training.
Andrew McCutchen home run to dead center! He needs one more homer during the regular season for 300 in his career pic.twitter.com/TJQRvEZyZR
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 8, 2024
He should be able to get to that milestone rather quickly in the 2024 season.
Even though McCutchen has lost a step over the years, he is still a viable player.
Last season, he played 112 games with the Pirates and batted .256 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI.
Also, he added 75 walks.
Even at the age of 36, McCutchen still has plate discipline.
Getting on base is not something many players focus on anymore.
But, McCutchen still uses his old-school batting skills to provide positive results.
It will be interesting to see if McCutchen can help lead this young Pirates team into playoff contention.
Off the field, McCutchen has always been a valuable part of the clubhouse.
That should not change in 2024 as the Pirates need him to help lead their team of young players.
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