The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced that designated hitter Andrew McCutchen has been placed on the injured list. He left Friday’s game against the Seattle Mariners at PNC Park in the seventh inning after hitting a single to left field and having difficulty reaching first base. McCutchen took himself out of the game without even waiting for the trainer. The diagnosis is left knee inflammation. The Pirates have called up shortstop Alika Williams from Triple-A Indianapolis to take McCutchen’s place on the active roster.
Pirates place franchise icon McCutchen on injured list
The offensively weak Pirates couldn’t afford to lose one of their better hitters at a time when their postseason hopes are hanging by a thread. McCutchen’s return to Pittsburgh in 2023 has been one of the more interesting subplots of the last two years. Neal Huntington, the general manager at the time, traded “Cutch” after the 2018 season. He was believed to be a player on the decline. Since his return, McCutchen has been one of the Pirates’ better hitters. This season, he’s hitting .235/.336/.405, 16 HR, 40 RBI and 108 OPS+. He started to blossom since being moved to leadoff hitter permanently in May. He has an excellent .343 OBP as a leadoff hitter in 2024.
McCutchen had struggled over the last few games and was noticeably limping on the bases. McCutchen’s leadership qualities will be missed by a Pirates team that looked dejected during a 10-game losing streak that ended Friday.
The Pirates entered Saturday’s games at 57-64, putting them in last place in the National League Central Division. They are 12 ½ games out of first place and 6 ½ games out of the wild card. A postseason berth remains mathematically possible but unlikely, given the number of teams ahead of them in the wild card race. Bookmakers now give them a 1.2 percent chance of making the postseason, so fans and media have started thinking about 2025. Given his performance in 2024, McCutchen should be back with the Pirates next year. However, due to McCutchen’s health issues, the Pirates will require him to pass a medical before re-signing him, as they did this season.
Off to Williams
Oneil Cruz also struggled around the bases in an unfortunate seventh inning on Friday, so the Pirates brought in Williams to have more backup at shortstop while Cruz plays day-to-day. Cruz was in the lineup Saturday as the designated hitter, with newly signed Isiah Kiner-Falefa taking Cruz’s spot in the outfield and McCutchen’s place as leadoff in the order.
Williams, who made the team in spring training, has bounced back and forth between Pittsburgh and Indy all year. With the Pirates, he has a batting average of .210/.246/.290. The last thing the Pirates need is another Mario Mendoza-level hitter. On the other hand, they can’t afford to be short on a key defensive position. In Triple-A, Williams has a batting average of .298/.379/.390. Perhaps he can translate that batting to the Pirates while McCutchen is on the injured list.
Once Cruz is healthy enough to play, the Pirates would be wise to bring in one of their young hitters in Indianapolis. They must decide what to do with Henry Davis, who excelled with the ball in Indy but has slipped down the catcher rankings. Newcomers Nick Yorke and Billy Cook could also be brought in. Yorke is a center fielder who is reportedly ready to hit as a major league pitcher. He is already the Pirates’ sixth prospect. Cook, an outfielder, is ranked lower at No. 24, but his recent streak of outstanding hitting makes him an interesting prospect. Jack Suwinski, who continues to struggle, will be less likely to consider a return.
Main photo credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
