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.
Cimillo’s Homer Leads Series Opening Win
CURVE, Pa. – Nick Cimillo knocked his second home run of the season as Altoona defeated the Portland Sea Dogs, 4-2, on Tuesday night to begin the week at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Cimillo knocked the solo shot in the seventh inning odd Sea Dogs reliever Jonathan Brand. The Curve
Curve Split Sunday Doubleheader in Akron
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Peterson Powers RubberDucks to Second-Consecutive Shutout Win Over Altoona
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Curve Swept in Doubleheader by 'Ducks
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RubberDucks Sneak Past Curve in Tuesday Morning Defeat
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Curve and RubberDucks Postponed for Second-Consecutive Night
AKRON, Ohio – The Altoona Curve and Akron RubberDucks were rained out for the second day in-a-row on Thursday night at Canal Park. The game will be made up as a doubleheader on Sunday, May 25 with game one beginning at 4:05 p.m. The night will consist of two seven
Curve and RubberDucks Rained Out on Wednesday Night
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Senators Snag Series Finale in Altoona
CURVE, Pa. – Jack Brannigan stretched his on-base streak to 23 games on Sunday night with a two-hit performance for the Curve, but Altoona could not hold off the Harrisburg Senators in a 6-4 loss at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Harrisburg capitalized early with a first inning grand slam from
Jarvis, Jebb Jam Senators
Mitch Jebb and Mike Jarvis each picked up three hits in an 8-4 for the Curve over the Harrisburg Senators in front of 4,737 fans at Peoples Natural Gas Field on Saturday night. Altoona earned a series win over the Senators, picking up their fourth win in five games this
Curve Mascot LOCO Nominated for Mascot Hall of Fame
CURVE, PA – Everyone’s favorite mascot, LOCO, has been nominated to the Mascot Hall of Fame’s 2025 class. Voting opens May 11th at mascothalloffame.com and runs through May 24th. The 2025 inductees will be announced in June. To see the ballot and vote for LOCO, click here. Each of the
Jebb Drives in Three in 5-4 Win
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Pichardo, Jebb Lead 9-4 Win over Harrisburg
CURVE, Pa. – Mitch Jebb and Kervin Pichardo combined for six hits, seven runs scored, two walks and four runs batted in out of the top two spots in the Curve lineup in a 9-4 win over Harrisburg on Thursday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Pichardo led the 10-hit
Brannigan, Siani Pick Up Three Hits Each in Doubleheader Split
CURVE, Pa. – Altoona and Harrisburg split a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon, with the Curve winning the opener 8-0 and falling in the finale, 6-4, in front of 8,273 fans at Peoples Natural Gas Field. In game one of the doubleheader, Alessandro Ercolani earned his first win of the season
Maverick Baker Baseball All-Star Showcase Returning to Peoples Natural Gas Field
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Curve and Senators Rained Out on Tuesday Night
CURVE, Pa. – The Altoona Curve and Harrisburg Senators were rained out on Tuesday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. The game will be made up as a doubleheader on Wednesday, May 14 with game one beginning at 11:00 a.m. Tickets for today’s game can be exchanged for any other
Bullpen Covers All Nine Innings in 3-2 Win
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Pichardo’s Big Day Leads 6-4 Win
ERIE, PA – Kervin Pichardo went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate and drove in a pair to lead Altoona to a 6-4 win over the Erie SeaWolves on Saturday afternoon at UPMC Park. Wilber Dotel struck out eight batters in six innings and allowed just three runs (two earned)
Curve Shutout on Friday Night
ERIE, PA – Altoona got a strong start from Garrett McMillan in his Double-A debut, but, Erie earned their second shutout win of the week, 7-0, on Friday night at UPMC Park in Erie. McMillan scattered three hits against the first seven hitters and then dialed in to retire ten
Curve Fight Back, Fall Late at Erie
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SeaWolves Outlast Curve on Wednesday Afternoon
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Curve Bats Quieted in Series Opener at Erie
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Hunter Barco Named Eastern League Pitcher of the Month
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Dotel Dispatches Ten ‘Ducks in 3-2 Win
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Barco Sets Franchise Record for Longest Scoreless Streak in 5-3 Loss to Akron
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Jebb Drives in Two in Rain-Shortened Win
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