Andrew McCutchen started in right field for the Pirates' home opener against the New York Yankees, his first outfield appearance of the season.
This move was prompted by usual right fielder Bryan Reynolds shifting to designated hitter (DH) due to right triceps soreness.
McCutchen had previously served as DH but sat out the series prior to the home opener.
Why this matters:: McCutchen remains an important offensive contributor for the Pirates. His positioning flexibility (or lack thereof) impacts lineup construction, especially when other key players like Reynolds are limited by injuries.
McCutchen was also seen taking ground balls at first base, sparking brief speculation. However, manager Derek Shelton confirmed this was informal and McCutchen will not play first base this season.
Andrew McCutchen's role with the Pittsburgh Pirates continues to be a focal point early in the season. After serving as the designated hitter in the opening series against the Miami Marlins, he was relegated to the bench during the subsequent series against the Tampa Bay Rays. His return to the lineup for the home opener came in right field, filling in for Bryan Reynolds who is managing a right triceps issue that limits him to hitting duties for now.
The Pirates' lineup saw several adjustments for the home opener, with Ke'Bryan Hayes leading off for the first time this season and McCutchen slotted into the fifth spot. McCutchen playing the outfield allows the Pirates to keep Reynolds' bat in the lineup as DH.
Adding another layer to McCutchen's usage was the sight of him fielding grounders at first base during practice. While this led to some discussion about potentially increasing his versatility to keep his bat in the lineup more consistently (especially given his .250 average and .940 OPS in a small sample size compared to other options like Endy Rodríguez or Jared Triolo at first), manager Derek Shelton quickly clarified that McCutchen was merely "having fun" and there are no plans for him to play first base. Rodríguez started at first base in the home opener.
The situation highlights the Pirates' challenge in maximizing offensive output while managing injuries and defensive positioning early in their 2-5 start to the season.
Why did Andrew McCutchen play outfield in the home opener?
Regular right fielder Bryan Reynolds was moved to designated hitter due to right triceps soreness, creating an opening in the outfield for McCutchen.
Will Andrew McCutchen play first base for the Pirates this season?
No. Despite being seen taking grounders at the position, manager Derek Shelton stated McCutchen will not play first base and was just practicing informally.
Who is currently playing first base for the Pirates?
Endy Rodríguez and Jared Triolo have both seen time at first base early in the season, with Rodríguez starting there in the home opener.
McCutchen remains a valued hitter for the Pirates, primarily expected to contribute as a DH or occasional outfielder.
Injuries to key players like Bryan Reynolds are forcing lineup adjustments early in the season.
While versatile players are valuable, the team currently doesn't plan to experiment with McCutchen at first base.
How important is it to keep Andrew McCutchen's bat in the lineup daily, even with potential defensive limitations? Let us know your thoughts!
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Source 1: Symbolic, pragmatic factors propel Pirates' Andrew McCutchen to rare outfield start for home opener (target="_blank")
Source 2: MLB Analysis: Could we see Andrew McCutchen at first base for Pirates? Why not? (target="_blank")
Source 3: Pittsburgh Pirates Reveal Home Opener Lineup (target="_blank")
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