PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – When Andrew McCutchen was at the height of his powers, Jordy Mercer played with him. He tells the Fan Morning Show he’s not surprised by this season. What he did say the 38-year-old is doing.
The team’s regular designated hitter, McCutchen leads the team in doubles, second in home runs, third in RBI. He has the second-best on-base percentage at .339, only slightly behind Nick Gonzales, who has played in just 19 games.
It seems daily McCutchen is passing another big name in Pirates or MLB history on some all-time list. He recently passed Joe DiMaggio and Willie McCovey on the hits list, Roberto Clemente, Steve Garvey, Barry Larkin on the doubles list and Clemente for all-time home runs as a Pirate.
“He’s still doing it,” Mercer told The Fan Morning Show. “That’s what is most impressive to me, he still loves the game and wants to perform well. That fire is still there.”
It was a question early this year, especially with Bryan Reynolds needing some reps as a DH, where Jack Suwinski, Adam Frazier or Joey Bart get extra at bats with McCutchen there? It’s worked itself out. Cutch has double the doubles of and three more home runs this month than Oneil Cruz. In a desert of extra base hits, it’s the 38-year-old who delivered.
“He still wants to do well,” Mercer told Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson. “He still loves being a part of this organization. He got off to a good start and is still riding that wave. His body feels good.”
Mercer added they talk quite often and have good conversations about his future. He said McCutchen told him he’s actually playing more than he anticipated and is still learning how to be the best designated hitter he can be. His body feels good, the workouts keep him in a good spot and he’s riding the wave. There isn’t any talk about this being his last year.
“I just enjoy having conversations with (McCutchen) ‘man, how long are you going to do this?” Mercer said on The Fan Morning Show. “’I don’t know. I’m just going to keep going and figure it out as we go’.”