Andrew McCutchen Is Having Fun and Showing Out for the Rangers
After an abbreviated but impressive spring training that landed him on Texas' roster, McCutchen is still raking.
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In less than a month, Andrew McCutchen has gone from unemployed to one of the Texas Rangers‘ biggest contributors. Taking the “say I can’t” approach this spring, the veteran outfielder and DH came into Rangers camp guns blazing.
With little time to make an impression, McCutchen forced the Rangers’ hand and made the Opening Day roster. It was a decision that was ultimately easy to make, as he was raking in spring training, while fellow DH Joc Pederson continued to struggle.
When a 39-year-old former MVP rolls into the organization, that is a big deal. It has obvious value from a marketing perspective. It also adds a layer of leadership that is undeniable.
And all of that is fantastic, but is the guy going to produce? That is the question that was floating around the baseball world as camp closed and the 162-game grind began. Cautious optimism, with a heavy dose of skepticism, is where most people landed.
Any anxiety from Rangers’ fans that McCutchen might not be able to still hit regular season major league pitching has been quickly laid to rest. Leading the team in several offensive categories through six games, McCutchen helped lead the team to two tough road series victories.
Fun, Positive, and Impactful
Look, as we all get older, we have two choices. We can be the grumpy “get off my lawn” people, or we can embrace change and enjoy ourselves. McCutchen falls squarely in the latter category.
The guy’s smile is infectious, and it is clear that he is having a blast. Sure, it helps when you are performing well, and the team is winning. But McCutchen is bringing a positive vibe to the clubhouse and ultimately to the field each day.
Anybody who can create an alter ego of Uncle Larry is bound to be fun. McCutchen takes his job seriously, but he doesn’t take himself too seriously. There is a levity about him that has spread throughout the team.
There is something about seeing the veteran doing the “lasso” at first base after a base knock that is incredibly enjoyable. The impact that McCutchen has had on the Rangers goes well beyond the stat line.
Much like the “Little Rascals” gave Texas a boost of energy late last summer, McCutchen is doing the same this season. Work hard, play hard is an easy way to describe what we are seeing out of Cutch.
McCutchen’s Gaudy Numbers
Over his career, McCutchen has put up some robust stats. As he starts his 18th season, his career slash line is impressive at .272/.365/.457. He has 333 home runs and a 126 wRC+.
Some of his many accomplishments include winning the 2013 NL MVP, being a five-time All-Star and a four-time Silver Slugger, and winning a Gold Glove. One of his favorites was being named the 2015 Roberto Clemente Award winner.
In a piece for MLB.com by Adam Berry, McCutchen talked about what that honor meant to him.
“The thing is, you never hear a story about how he [Clemente] played the game. You always hear about how great of a person he is,” McCutchen said. “I feel like what was most important to Clemente was helping others. You can see it through other people. That definitely made a big impact on me. That’s how you want to be remembered.”
That says a lot about the kind of man that McCutchen is. And 11 years after saying those words, he is still living them out.
On top of that, he is still putting up numbers. Through his team’s first six games, McCutchen has 15 plate appearances. He is hitting .429/.467/.786 with two doubles, a home run, three runs, four RBI, and a 262 wRC+.
Obviously, this is a small sample and isn’t a pace that is sustainable. But getting off to a hot start has solidified his spot on the Rangers’ roster.
Let’s take a look at what the rest of the season might look like for McCutchen.
What To Expect From McCutchen Moving Forward
From his first interview in Rangers’ camp until now, McCutchen has been all about filling whatever role that manager Skip Schumaker might have for him. He isn’t just saying the right things; he actually means them.
In the first two series, McCutchen has started at DH against left-handed pitchers twice, as well as starting in right field in the getaway game in Baltimore, also against a lefty. He has also come off the bench in a pinch-hitting role twice.
To this point, the Rangers have primarily used McCutchen in a platoon with Pederson. But as Joc continues to struggle, McCutchen’s role could start to expand.
Pederson has managed only a walk and a sacrifice fly in his first 11 plate appearances of the season. He is still looking for his first hit.
McCutchen does have better splits over his career against lefties, but he has still been handy against righties. Versus lefties, Cutch has hit .290/.387/.516. Against righties, it’s a .266/.358/.438 line for his career.
Comparing McCutchen’s career numbers versus right-handed pitching to Pederson’s is very interesting. Pederson does historically have more slug at .480, but both his .241 average and .343 on-base percentage fall short of McCutchen’s stats.
With all that being said, if the two veterans remain remotely on the same trajectory, there will be more and more at-bats coming McCutchen’s way.
McCutchen will turn 40 on October 11 of this year. I am sure that he and the Rangers would both love to throw him a clubhouse birthday party during the middle of a playoff run.
One thing is for sure, Cutch is still playing ball. He is still having fun doing so. And he is a treat for all baseball fans to enjoy.
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Written by
West Jones is a baseball enthusiast who resides in Texas. He is a graduate of Tarleton State University (finance) and has his MBA from Ball State…