Andrew McCutchen’s summer of individual milestones is officially underway.
Facing New York Mets starter Carlos Carrasco in the bottom of the first inning Sunday afternoon at PNC Park, McCutchen ripped a single into left field for career hit No. 2,000, becoming just the 291st player in baseball history to do so.
His 2,000 hits are fifth most among active MLB players, trailing Miguel Cabrera, Joey Votto, Nelson Cruz and Elvis Andrus.
Last game of the longest homestand of the season for the Pirates and Andrew McCutchen notches hit No. 2,000 in his career.
He is the 291st player in baseball history to do so.
Both his first and 2,000th MLB hits have come against the New York Mets. pic.twitter.com/cuRBqMXoIl
— Justin Guerriero (@GuerrieroTrib) June 11, 2023
The achievement comes in McCutchen’s 1,952nd MLB game.
After he got on base, Sunday’s crew of umpires allowed an extended pause in play, allowing the 36-year-old McCutchen to soak in the moment and retrieve the ball, all of which was applauded loudly by the crowd at PNC Park.
Beginning the season with 1,948 hits, McCutchen sat at 1,995 ahead of the Pirates’ ongoing nine-game homestand, of which this game against New York is the final installment before the club hits the road for six straight starting Tuesday.
McCutchen recorded his first MLB hit June 4, 2009, in his big-league debut with the Pirates, which also came at home vs. the Mets.
Hit No. 1,000 was notched April 29, 2015, against the Cubs, then McCutchen got to 1,500 May 15, 2018, against the Reds while a member of the San Francisco Giants.
With 1,515 hits in a Pirates uniform (2009-2017, 2023), McCutchen ranks 12th in club history.
McCutchen is within striking distance of several more milestones, as he currently has 399 career doubles (299 of which he has hit with the Pirates) and is five home runs shy of 300 for his 14-year career.
