Andrew McCutchen

Andrew Stefan McCutchen was born on October 10, 1986, in Fort Meade, Florida, to Lorenzo McCutchen and Petrina Swan, who were high school students at that time. His father’s dreams of making it to the National Football League (NFL) were overpowered by his love for his son, and he chose to return to Fort Meade in 1989 to be closer to him. McCutchen’s parents met when his father became a church minister, and they got married on August 1, 1992.

From his early years, his natural talent for baseball shone through; he was eligible to play varsity baseball as an eighth grader at Fort Meade High School, recording an enviable batting average of .591 during the year. His prowess on the field carried him through his high school years, and by his senior season, McCutchen was boasting an average of .709, hitting 16 home runs, and 42 RBIs. Additionally, he showed off his speed and agility on the track and football field, becoming a top football recruit in the state of Florida. However, he knew where his passion lay and chose baseball over a possible football career.

McCutchen was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2005 MLB draft, selected in the first round with the 11th pick overall. Rather than attend the University of Florida, to which he had previously committed, McCutchen chose to sign with the Pirates, marking the start of his professional baseball career. His rookie year saw him play for both the Gulf Coast League (GCL) Pirates and the Class A Williamsport Crosscutters, with impressive stats including a .310 batting average and 17 stolen bases in 210 at-bats.

McCutchen’s rise as a baseball player continued, and he found himself named as the number 50 prospect named by Baseball America before the 2006 season. The same year, he claimed an honor as a South Atlantic League (SAL) All-Star, and played the bulk of the season for the Class A Hickory Crawdads. He also played for the Class AA Altoona Curve, batting a combined .294 and recording 17 home runs and 23 stolen bases in 531 at-bats.

Over the years, his reputation as a powerful player solidified, with a career-high three home runs in a single game against the Washington Nationals in August 2009. Even as he scaled greater heights in his career, McCutchen remained grounded. Despite not being named to the 2010 National League All-Star Team, McCutchen’s teammate, Pirates pitcher Evan Meek, said that McCutchen was “very deserving” and should have gone as well.

McCutchen’s talent and hard work came to fruition in 2013 when he was named the National League (NL) Most Valuable Player. His accolades did not end there, however; McCutchen became a five-time All-Star from 2011 to 2015, a four-time Silver Slugger Award winner from 2012 to 2015, a Gold Glove Award winner in 2012, and the Roberto Clemente Award winner in 2015.

McCutchen continued proving his worth in subsequent years, signing a six-year, $51.5 million contract extension with the Pirates in 2012. The following season brought even greater recognition in the form of being named the Player’s Choice National League Outstanding Player, winning the Louisville Silver Slugger Award, and the Rawlings Gold Glove Award.

Today, despite passing stints with the San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, and Milwaukee Brewers, McCutchen has returned as designated hitter for the Pittsburgh Pirates in Major League Baseball (MLB).