Pirates star Andrew McCutchen received salutes from a few fellow Pittsburgh-area sports heroes on Sunday after the 15-year veteran and franchise great reached his latest career milestone.
With a single into left field in his first at-bat against the Mets, the 36-year-old McCutchen notched the 2,000th hit of his illustrious career, doing so in the city where the former NL MVP blossomed into one of the game’s best during his first nine MLB seasons.
Shortly after the hit, the Pirates aired a video featuring Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger, Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby and former Pirates second baseman Neil Walker congratulating Cutch on his big day.
This moment is everything 💛 pic.twitter.com/53yrnjJNwt
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) June 11, 2023
“I couldn’t be prouder of you, man,” Roethlisberger said. “It’s been so much fun to watch you play. I think one of the coolest things is that you were able to do this and hit this feat while wearing a Pirates uniform. Just wouldn’t seem right to see you accomplish this in anything but the black and gold.”
Added Crosby, “I’ve always admired the way that you compete and work over the years, and couldn’t be more deserving of it … Hope you have a great night celebrating [this milestone].”
Walker, who played with McCutchen from 2009 to ’15, offered, perhaps, the most sentimental and amusing message as he closed the clip.
“There’s nobody that’s seen in-person, besides maybe your wife, as many hits as you’ve had in your career,” Walker said. “You were such a great teammate, such a good friend to me and I know there’s more in the tank than 2,000, brother. Keep it going.”
After the top of the second inning, the Pirates show video messages from Ben Roethlisberger, Sidney Crosby and Neil Walker pic.twitter.com/8AZoggHhXB
— Justice delos Santos (@justdelossantos) June 11, 2023
Needless to say, the messages added more good memories to what was a special moment for McCutchen, who returned to the Pirates last offseason after stints with the Giants, Yankees, Phillies and Brewers.
