Strong June propels Pirates' Andrew McCutchen into All-Star consideration

Andrew McCutchen already has produced plenty of memorable moments this season.

He notched career hit No. 2,000 on June 11 and less than two weeks later, collected his 400th career double.

Suffice to say, McCutchen’s reunion with the Pittsburgh Pirates has been fruitful.

Sunday evening, McCutchen’s efforts might earn him another accomplishment, one that has eluded him for the better part of a decade.

Not since 2015, during his original stint with the Pirates, has McCutchen been named to the All-Star Game, one of five such trips he made between 2009 and 2017 before being traded to San Francisco in early 2018.

“He’s the heartbeat of this team, and for him to have that honor would be huge,” closer David Bednar said. “I think everybody already sees him as (an All-Star). But just the validation would be good, as well. He’s had an incredible year so far, and he’s been a big part of why we’re able to have some success.”

While the National League and American League starting lineups, as voted by fans, have been announced, at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, ESPN will reveal the teams’ pitchers and reserves.

Bednar, a 2022 All-Star, has a compelling case, with 16 saves on the year to go along with a 1.44 ERA over 31 appearances.

The same could be said of starter Mitch Keller, who boasts a 9-3 record and 3.34 ERA.

But behind a torrid month of June, McCutchen has thrust himself into the conversation.

With his three-hit, three-RBI performance against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, McCutchen closed out an already-solid month of June on a strong note as he hit .319 (23 for 72) with seven RBIs, four doubles and a pair of home runs.

In June, McCutchen’s .462 on-base percentage was the second best in baseball behind the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani. The 20 walks McCutchen drew in June were third most in the league.

“He’s had a really good month,” manager Derek Shelton said. “I think what he continues to do, not only throughout the month but the season — I think he has a strong (All-Star) case.”

A year removed from posting career-lows in on-base percentage (.316) and OPS (.700) in his lone campaign with the Brewers, McCutchen is having a bounce-back season.

Entering Sunday, McCutchen was hitting .282 with 10 home runs and 28 RBIs.

While hitless in Saturday’s loss to the Brewers, McCutchen was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning, extending an on-base streak to 20 games that dates to June 5.

Los Angeles’ J.D. Martinez earned the most fan votes among NL designated hitters, with the Phillies’ Bryce Harper making the cut by way of finishing second.

McCutchen’s path to the All-Star Game roster, same as Bednar’s and Keller’s, rests in the hands of MLB player ballots in addition to the final selections made by the office of commissioner Rob Manfred.

“I’ve thought about it,” McCutchen said of All-Star consideration. “I’d be lying to you if I told you I wasn’t thinking about it. But it’s not necessarily my call. But I feel like, as a DH in the National League, I feel like I’m hanging around with the majority of them. It would be cool if I was given the opportunity. … It would be awesome to go back. I’ve been working my tail off.”

Among qualifying designated hitters across baseball, he’s second in on-base percentage (.395) and first in walks (47).

The 36-year-old’s 70 hits and .846 OPS both rank fourth.

Looking at only NL designated hitters, McCutchen’s 70 hits are tied for second with Miami’s Jorge Soler.

Among that group, McCutchen ranks first in on-base percentage, walks and stolen bases (nine), with his OPS ranking third and slugging percentage (.448) sitting fourth best.

While McCutchen remains committed to achieving team-oriented goals with the Pirates, being back in the All-Star conversation doubtless has been flattering.

“I know what I’m capable of doing,” McCutchen said. “I’ve been working at it. I’m going to continue to keep working at it and continue to keep going, but it’s a little gratifying right now to have the year that I’m having right now.”

As for Shelton, who will make his own All-Star debut July 11 in Seattle as part of NL skipper Rob Thomson’s coaching staff, he hopes to see some familiar faces, McCutchen’s included, upon arriving at T-Mobile Park.

“I’m excited to see what’s going to happen there,” Shelton said. “ … I think Cutch has made a good case for himself.”