Andrew McCutchen’s next act in baseball may not be on a field at all.
The longtime Pirates star is joining MLB Network for postseason coverage, and it’s the kind of move that feels bigger than a one-off studio stop. McCutchen has spent nearly two decades as one of the most recognizable figures in the sport, and this October gig only sharpens the sense that his baseball life could keep rolling long after his playing days are over.
MLB Network announced that McCutchen would be part of today’s “#MLBTonight: National Pregame Show” and tomorrow’s “#MLBCentral!” with appearances set for 10/5 at 3pm ET and 10/6 at 10am ET.
He brings plenty more than name value to the desk. McCutchen is a former National League MVP, a five-time All-Star and a four-time Silver Slugger winner, with a career that’s taken him through a franchise turnaround in Pittsburgh, postseason baseball, injuries, trades, free agency and the churn of rebuilding teams. That kind of background gives him a perspective networks can’t fake.
What has always made McCutchen stand out is the mix of charisma, honesty and ease. Pirates fans have long seen the humor and candor that made him such an easy player to root for, and he has never seemed shy about being one of the public faces of the game. He’s embraced the role, whether talking about baseball’s evolution, connecting with younger players or simply letting more of his personality show than many stars do.
That matters in a postseason setting. The best analysts don’t just explain a pitch or a swing decision.
They tell the story of the moment, the pressure behind it and the details that make October feel different. McCutchen has lived that stage.
He remains tied to Pittsburgh’s most meaningful recent October stretch. McCutchen was the face of the 2013 club that ended 20 straight losing seasons and brought postseason baseball back to PNC Park. He was there for the unforgettable Wild Card win over the Cincinnati Reds and stayed central to the Pirates’ return trips to October in 2014 and 2015.
Thirteen years after Pittsburgh chanted Johnny Cueto’s name and celebrated one of the franchise’s most memorable nights, McCutchen is now helping a national audience make sense of someone else’s postseason run.
And whether he has already played his last game or has another season or two left, his connection to baseball looks built to last. Broadcasting is one route.
A role with the Pirates is another possibility. He could also work elsewhere around the league or choose opportunities that keep him close to the game without making it his full-time job.
What makes all of that realistic is simple: McCutchen has a reach television can’t create on its own. Pirates fans know the dreadlocks, the MVP year and the October scenes at PNC Park.
Fans around the league remember his time with the Giants, Yankees, Phillies and Brewers. Younger players grew up with him.
Older players went against him.
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