With the Pirates complete gutting of their best players over the past three seasons (Gerrit Cole, Andrew McCutchen, Josh Bell, Tyler Glasnow, Austin Meadows, Jameson Taillon, Starling Marte, Joe Musgrove, and Corey Dickerson) it is clear the team is rebuilding for the future.
The 2020 Pirates reminded me a lot of the 2010 Pirates in that they were the worse team in baseball and had traded their best players just a few seasons before.
With the rebuild of the 2009-2011 seasons there were players that normally wouldn't have been given a chance in the majors. One such player was "the other McCutchen".
Daniel McCutchen was part of the return package the Pirates got from the Yankees (along with Jeff Karstens and Jose Tabata) for Damaso Marte and Xavier Nady in 2008. Daniel McCutchen,was drafted in the 13th round of the 2006 MLB draft by the Yankees after failing to sign with the Cardinals, Yankees, and Devil Rays in previous years of being drafted.
Daniel joined the Pirates minor league affiliate, Indianapolis Indians (AAA). He pitched to a 4.69ERA and 7.7K/9 in 48 innings in 2008. He would repeat AAA in 2009 and pitched to much better results, earning a call up to the majors. He lead the International League in victories in 2009.
Daniel made his MLB debut on August 31, 2009 for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He would go on to start six games for the Pirates, going 1-2 with a 4.21 ERA in 36 innings.
He would make the team's Opening Day roster in 2010 in the long relief/spot starter role.
On August 8th 2010, Daniel did something that no other Pirates pitcher has done since. He stole a base.
I found an article from 2013 that dives deep into pitchers stealing bases. It was available on SB Nation and can be viewed here.
I don't have a huge Daniel McCutchen, but do have a few autographs of the former Pirates pitcher.
How neat is that Daniel/Andrew McCutchen card!
ReplyDeleteI forgot about Daniel! I do remember that trade though. And man, that list of names Pittsburgh has trades...
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