McCutchen’s Mojo Puts Pirates Back in Win Column

Andrew McCutchen knows how to lift his teammates’ confidence.

 Heading into Wednesday night’s home game against the visiting Washington Nationals at PNC Park, the Pittsburgh Pirates are 6-12, last in the National League Central. This home stand wraps up, beginning on Friday, as the Cleveland Guardians visit the “Steel City.”

There’s no sugarcoating that the club is off to a rough start. There’s plenty of baseball left in the season, but leave it to the Pirates’ most senior teammate to make his contribution that could lead to a sustainable winning period.

Coincidence? Maybe. But this past Monday, McCutchen took it upon himself to lighten the mood in the Pirates’ clubhouse and the dugout. Looking to make his contribution to hopefully get the Bucs to bust out of a league-worst 1.95 batting average, McCutchen was in a giving mood. The team received a unique gift from the former National League MVP.

Everyone received a black-and gold Phiten necklace. According to Phiten, the necklaces stabilize the electric flow that nerves use to communicate actions to the body.

Huh?

Believe or don’t believe in the company literature. But, by golly on Monday, with Paul Skenes on the mound for the Pirates, something was different about his teammates on the field. Pittsburgh came away with a 10-3 win. Skenes improved his record to 2-1. Plus, for a weeknight game, the club drew 10,402 through the turnstiles.

Okay, the Pirates took one on the chin the next night, losing to the Nationals on Tuesday evening 3-0. Mitch Keller pitched had an impressive outing, by going six innings, striking out three, and walking two. Unfortunately, the Pirates’ bats were silent, as they were held to just four hits.

Whether it was for just that one night, or perhaps the club’s winnings kick into gear starting with the Cleveland series, McCutchen is doing his part to rally the troops. Now, while playing in his twelfth season with the Pirates (17th overall in MLB), at age 38, McCutchen is sending a message to his fellow Bus that it’s never too late for a turnaround.

On Wednesday, after 13 games of either the designated hitter or in right field, McCutchen has collected 10 hits, one home run, and is second on the team in batting among the regulars with a .270 average.

Back to the necklace distribution. Be it mojo magic or it was the night game, Pittsburgh was waiting to break out of hard times, but this past Monday, the Pirates could do no wrong offensively.

Pittsburgh slapped out 14 hits and were an incredible eight-for-eight, with runners in scoring position. This was the performance that any manager, Pirates’ skipper Derek Shelton included, would love to be able to bottle – and break the glass when needed.

Pirates’ fans came, for the most part, to see Skenes perform pitching magic, and he delivered. However, the Bucs’ bonus was a hitting clinic that had been long-awaited. Only two batters in the lineup registered no hits, and there were five players with multiple hits.

Literature states that the Phiten necklace is popular in Japan. Well, at least for now, Pittsburgh is poised to give the Orient a run for its popularity and effectiveness. Only four Nationals were able to smack six hits combined, on the night that Skenes was pitching, and the Pirates’ players wore their new (and most favorite) necklaces.

McCutchen’s game is on cruise control. Coming into the 2025 season, the former first-round draft pick of the Pirates has surpassed 2,000 hits, 300 home runs, 1,000 RBIs, and 1,000 walks. He appears to be playing with no pressure and just the joy of coming to the ballpark. He’s soaking up the little things and highlights each game offers. Now in the twilight of his playing days, McCutchen is doing what he surely is most proud of – being a good teammate.