CINCINNATI -- When Andrew McCutchen signed back with his original team, it was understood that he was going to split time between the outfield and designated hitter. And while he had graded poorly as a fielder the last couple years, he believed that he can still contribute on both sides of the ball.
He showed it in Sunday's 3-1 Pirates loss against the Reds at Great American Ball Park.
With the Pirates trailing by two in the seventh, Tyler Stephenson nearly put the game out of reach by ripping a ball into the right-center gap, but he was denied by McCutchen, who was seeing his first action in the field this season:
Andrew McCutchen does have a little Gold in that Glove. pic.twitter.com/EYLhzjPWqR
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 2, 2023
That kept the Pirates in the game, though it would not ultimately matter since they lost 3-1. But McCutchen's defense was a bit of a question coming into the year, and so far, so good.
Talking to McCutchen about the catch after the game, I brought up the closing speed needed for a catch like that. He focused more on the route, proud that he can still improve his game 15 years deep into his major-league career.
"That's what keeps me out there, working hard at that," he said to me.
Looking at that route, it was pretty direct. He can't make that grab if he doesn't read it off the bat:
BASEBALL SAVANT
And just to confirm what we could safely assume by him starting, that elbow is feeling fine.
