PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Pirates icon Andrew McCutchen, a standout athlete in the city for decades, was noticeably absent from a recent high-profile event.
Pat McAfee’s “Big Night Aht” drew 12,508 fans to PPG Paints Arena for a lively variety show. McAfee, reflecting on his Pittsburgh roots and love for local sports, hosted a star-studded evening featuring Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh-born rapper Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg, and comedian Shane Gillis.
The guest list also included former Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger and Penguins stars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang.
Fans took to social media, questioning why McCutchen, a key figure in the Pirates’ recent successes, wasn’t part of the lineup.
McCutchen addressed a fan’s inquiry on Twitter, simply stating, “Didn’t get an invite,” explaining his absence from the event.
Andrew McCutchen is in his 12th season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 2025, he’s played 10 games, batting .267/.333/.433 with an OPS of .767, tallying eight hits, one home run, two doubles, eight RBIs, three walks, and seven strikeouts.
Last season, at age 38, McCutchen primarily served as the designated hitter, appearing in 120 games. He recorded 104 hits, 18 doubles, 20 home runs, and 50 RBIs, slashing .232/.328/.411.
Drafted 11th overall by the Pirates in 2005 out of Fort Meade High School in Florida, McCutchen skipped a Florida commitment for a $1.9 million signing bonus. He debuted in June 2009, posting a .286/.365/.471 slash line as a rookie with 124 hits, 26 doubles, nine triples, 12 home runs, 54 RBIs, 22 stolen bases, and 54 walks against 83 strikeouts, finishing fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting.
McCutchen’s career soared with five straight All-Star nods (2011-15), four consecutive Silver Slugger Awards (2012-15), and a 2012 Gold Glove. In 2013, he claimed NL MVP honors, slashing .317/.404/.508 with 185 hits, 38 doubles, five triples, 21 home runs, 84 RBIs, 27 steals, and 78 walks to 101 strikeouts. That year, he helped the Pirates snap a 20-year losing streak and reach the playoffs for the first time since 1992.
Traded to the San Francisco Giants after 2017, McCutchen also played briefly for the New York Yankees in 2018. He then signed a three-year, $50 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies (2019-21) and spent 2022 with the Milwaukee Brewers.
McCutchen returned to Pittsburgh on one-year, $5 million contracts for 2023, 2024, and now 2025, his 11th season with the club. Over 1,588 games with the Pirates, he has 1,675 hits, 331 doubles, 236 home runs, 45 triples, 823 RBIs, 185 stolen bases, and 821 walks, slashing .284/.375/.475.
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