Around the Curve | Andrew McCutchen’s Milestone Homer Puts Him in Select Company
CURVE, Pa. - The first month of the baseball calendar did not set up kindly for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but there were no lack of feel-good stories coming out of the 412. Jared Jones wowed Bucco fans with his dominant pitching efforts, Joey Bart joined the team with Pittsburgh roots
CURVE, Pa. - The first month of the baseball calendar did not set up kindly for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but there were no lack of feel-good stories coming out of the 412.
Jared Jones wowed Bucco fans with his dominant pitching efforts, Joey Bart joined the team with Pittsburgh roots and performed well, and the Pirates started the season 5-0 for the first time since 1983.
But perhaps the best story from the Pirates’ April slate was one that had been awaiting a cinematic conclusion for nearly eight months.
On April 14, in the ninth inning of an afternoon game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Andrew McCutchen drove a slider into the left-field seats for his first home run of the season.
It was the 300th of his storied career.
This was a milestone that fans had been holding their breath on for quite some time, as Cutch hit the 299th home run of his career on August 22, 2023. A full offseason of wondering whether the 37-year-old would re-sign in Pittsburgh to surpass the mark played out, but the Pirates brought back their most popular player of the 21st century to assure this story would have a happy ending.
Although the shot occurred on the road, it still happened in a ballpark that held significance to McCutchen, who played for the Phillies from 2019-2021. The home run drew cheers from fans of both sides of the Keystone state, a rare occasion in the sports world.
McCutchen became the fourth player to hit his 300th home run in a Pirates uniform, joining Ralph Kiner (1953), Willie Stargell (1973), and Jeromy Burnitz (2006). It was his 216th home run as a Pirate, leaving him 24 shy of catching Roberto Clemente for third-most in franchise history.
McCutchen is one of the most decorated Altoona Curve alums in the franchise’s 26-year history. His five All-Star game appearances are the second-most in franchise history, behind Gerrit Cole and Jose Bautista, who each have made six midsummer classics. He is the only alum to win a Most Valuable Player award.
McCutchen’s now 302 career home runs trail only Bautista, who hit 344 in his career. No other player in team history has gone on to hit more than 200 home runs in the majors, with only six others hitting 100: Pedro Alvarez (162), Josh Bell (156), Starling Marte (151), Neil Walker (149), Bryan Reynolds (102), and Nate McLouth (101).
However, when you look at all-around production at the Major League level amongst Curve alums, Cutch stands alone. He is now the 13th player in Major League Baseball history with 2,000 hits, 400 doubles, 45 triples, 300 home runs, and 200 stolen bases.
McCutchen played 138 games for the Curve from 2006-2007, and to this day he is still the youngest player to take the field for Altoona, making his Double-A debut on August 15, 2006 at 19 years, 10 months, and five days old. The 11th overall pick in the 2005 MLB Draft played in the final 20 games of the 2006 season en route to being named the Pirates Minor League Player of the Year.
When he returned in 2007, he was the Pirates No. 1 prospect per Baseball America, but his numbers cooled off. He finished his Curve tenure with a .265 batting average, 13 home runs and 60 RBIs in 138 games.
Although the Pirates star has never returned to Curve, PA in his playing career, he spoke fondly last summer about his memories playing at Blair County Ballpark, now known as Peoples Natural Gas Field.
“I remember driving from Hickory to Altoona for the first time, and once you get off the highway you see this grand stadium, it was really cool to see that because it felt like a big jump towards the big leagues,” said McCutchen. “You saw familiar faces all the time with fans and form a relationship with those people. It was very close knit and it was a place you wanted to show up to every day.”
McCutchen may not stand at the top of the All-Time performers in Curve history, but with his numerous Major-League accolades and larger-than-life personality, he is easily one of the most beloved players in team history.
Curve Fight Back, Fall Late at Erie
ERIE, PA – Altoona dropped their third straight game at Erie’s UPMC Park on Thursday night, 4-3. Erie’s Trei Cruz singled home Danny Serretti to send Erie to their second straight walk-off win over Altoona. Alessandro Ercolani tossed the first three innings of the contest for Altoona, allowing a pair
SeaWolves Outlast Curve on Wednesday Afternoon
ERIE, PA – Altoona dropped their second extra-inning game of the season, falling 6-4 to the Erie SeaWolves on Wednesday afternoon at UPMC Park. Termarr Johnson got Altoona’s scoring starting with a no-doubt solo homer to lead off the fourth inning against lefty Carlos Pena. Johnson’s fourth home run of
Curve Bats Quieted in Series Opener at Erie
ERIE, PA – Altoona’s offense was held to just two hits in a 3-0 defeat to the Erie SeaWolves on Tuesday night at UPMC Park. Jarod Bayless started a bullpen day with the Curve and allowed just one run on four hits in three innings. Bayless, who was charged with
Hunter Barco Named Eastern League Pitcher of the Month
Curve left-hander Hunter Barco has been named April’s Eastern League Pitcher of the Month on Monday afternoon. Barco has set the franchise record for the longest scoreless inning with 25.2 innings to begin the season after throwing five scoreless innings on Saturday, May 3 against the Akron RubberDucks. Previously, he
Dotel Dispatches Ten ‘Ducks in 3-2 Win
CURVE, PA – Wilber Dotel matched his career-high with ten strikeouts in six innings of one-run ball, and Mitch Jebb singled home the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth to finish off a 3-2 win for the Curve over the Akron RubberDucks on Sunday afternoon at Peoples Natural
Barco Sets Franchise Record for Longest Scoreless Streak in 5-3 Loss to Akron
CURVE, PA – Hunter Barco fired five scoreless innings, setting the franchise record with 26.1 scoreless innings thrown to begin the season, but the Curve fell 5-3 to the Akron RubberDucks on Saturday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Barco allowed just two hits and walked three in his scoreless
Jebb Drives in Two in Rain-Shortened Win
CURVE, PA – Alessando Ercolani tossed four innings of one-run ball, and the Curve offense scored six times on eight hits before the rains chased the teams from the field after the sixth inning on Friday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. The rain-shortened win, 6-2, for the Curve over
Brannigan Homers in Thursday Loss
CURVE, PA – Jack Brannigan knocked his 2nd homer of the season, but the Curve offense fell short of the RubberDucks in a 4-2 loss on Thursday afternoon at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Pirates rehabber Spencer Horwitz went 0-for-4 and played eight innings in the field in Thursday’s loss. Altoona
Bats Held Quiet on Wednesday Night
CURVE, PA – Altoona’s offense was held to three hits in a 6-0 shutout loss to the Akron RubberDucks on Wednesday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Jarod Bayless started a bullpen day for the Curve, allowing three runs in 2.2 innings pitched. Bayless struck out three and did not
Pitchers Dominate Despite Rain in 10-2 Win
CURVE, PA – After a 1:48 rain delay in the second inning that knocked both starting pitchers from the game, the Curve bullpen picked up 13 strikeouts in a 10-2 win over the Akron RubberDucks. The Curve offense banged out ten runs on 12 hits and drew six walks in
Hunter Barco Named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week
CURVE, PA – Curve left-hander Hunter Barco has been named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 21-27 after a strong week against the Chesapeake Baysox. Barco made two starts last week and stretched his scoreless inning streak to 20.2 innings to begin the season,
Barco Extends Scoreless Streak in Sunday Afternoon Win
BOWIE, MD – Curve starter Hunter Barco struck out eight batters in three scoreless innings and the Curve cruised to a 4-1 win over Chesapeake on Sunday afternoon at Prince George’s Stadium. Barco has now thrown 20.2 consecutive scoreless innings to begin the season and stands five innings shy of
Pirates Acquisition Spencer Horwitz to Rehab with Curve
CURVE, PA – Pirates infielder Spencer Horwitz is scheduled to rehab with the Altoona Curve and make his organizational debut on Sunday, April 27 at Chesapeake. Horwitz is in the Curve starting lineup for Sunday’s game, batting leadoff and playing first base. Horwitz was acquired by the Pirates in a
Curve Bullpen Tosses Seven Scoreless in Extra Inning Defeat
BOWIE, MD – Four Curve relievers combined to throw seven scoreless innings after starter Alessandro Ercolani lasted four innings, but the Chesapeake Baysox outlasted the Curve, 4-3, in 12 innings on Saturday night at Prince George’s Stadium. Altoona’s offense had several opportunities for big innings, particularly in the tenth inning,
Johnson Homers in 3-2 Defeat
BOWIE, MD – Termarr Johnson smashed his third home run of the season, an opposite field game-tying shot in the eighth inning, but Altoona saw their five-game win streak halted in a 3-2 loss to the Chesapeake Baysox on Friday night at Prince George’s Stadium. Johnson’s home run gave him
Curve Offense Sprints to Fifth Straight Win
BOWIE, MD – Cam Sanders slammed the door on the Chesapeake Baysox on Thursday night to earn his sixth save in seven appearances as the Curve won their fifth-straight game, 8-5, at Prince Georges Stadium. Sanders, who leads all Minor League pitchers in saves, has maintained a 0.00 ERA with
Altoona Fights for Fourth Straight Win
BOWIE, MD – Kervin Pichardo slugged a long, two-run home run in his first game back from injury as Altoona earned its fourth straight win, 3-2, over the Chesapeake Baysox at Prince Georges Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. Pichardo, who had missed Altoona’s last 16 games due to a thumb injury,
Barco & Bullpen Blank Baysox
BOWIE, MD – Hunter Barco extended his scoreless innings streak to 17.2 innings to begin the season, combining with Valentin Linarez, Wilken Ramos, and Cam Sanders to shutout the Chesapeake Baysox, 2-0, on Tuesday night at Prince Georges Stadium. Barco struck out eight batters and allowed just two over 4.2
Nine Run Seventh Clinches Series For Curve
CURVE, PA – The Curve scored nine times on eight hits in the bottom of the seventh inning, turning a 2-0 deficit into a 9-2 lead and eventual 9-3 win over the Somerset Patriots on Sunday afternoon at Peoples Natural Gas Field. With the win, Altoona earned a series win
Captain Jack Breaks Late Tie in 2-1 Win
CURVE, PA – Jack Brannigan drove in both of Altoona’s runs, including a go-ahead single in the eighth inning, to secure a 2-1 win over the Somerset Patriots in front of 4,198 fans at Peoples Natural Gas Field on Saturday evening. With the game tied at one in the eighth,
Tres Gonzalez Holds ERA at 0.00
CURVE, PA – Altoona’s offense was held to just three hits and two walks in a 12-1 loss to the Somerset Patriots on Friday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Somerset plated five runs across their first three at-bats and added seven more across the fifth to seventh inning. Derek
SportsNet Pittsburgh To Air 20 Curve Games at PNG Field During 2025 Campaign
CURVE, PA – The Altoona Curve are pleased to announce that 20 home games during the 2025 season will air on SportsNet Pittsburgh. “We are so really looking forward to expanding our partnership with SportsNet Pittsburgh to air more Altoona Curve games this season,” said Curve General Manager Nate Bowen.
Rail Kings Strike Out 14 in 6-4 Win
CURVE, PA – Playing as the Altoona Rail Kings, the Curve picked up a 6-4 win over the Somerset Patriots on Thursday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. The Curve took advantage of three early Somerset errors to score five runs across their first two at-bats. Sammy Siani slammed a
Brannigan, Bowen Bash Patriots in 10-1 Win
CURVE, PA – Curve starter Hunter Barco continued his brilliant start to begin the season and got plenty of run support in a 10-1 win for the Curve over the Somerset Patriots on Wednesday afternoon at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Barco permitted just one walk and one hit in his
Patriots Take Series Opener From Curve
CURVE, PA – Altoona was held without a hit into the seventh inning by Somerset pitching, as the Curve dropped their series opener to the Patriots, 6-1, on Tuesday night at PNG Field. Alessandro Ercolani and Nick Dombkowski combined for six innings of two run ball, allowing just two solo