When Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen connected on a three-run home run in the fifth inning on Wednesday, he did more than just extend his team’s lead over the Miami Marlins. He surpassed a Pirates legend in the process.
Taking his place in the batter’s box during the fifth inning with two runners on and one out, McCutchen got all of a 87.6 mph splitter from Cal Quantrill and deposited the pitch 405 feet to left field for home run No. 241 in his Pirates career.
That three-run blast helped McCutchen pass team legend and Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente for third all-time in team home runs. Etching his name into the third spot in the record book, the 2013 National League MVP and five-time All-Star trails only Ralph Kiner (301) and Willie Stargell (475) in Pirates history.
Speaking to the media after the Pirates’ 5-2 victory, McCutchen appeared thrilled to have hit his milestone home run in front of the home crowd at PNC Park.
“Just happy to have that opportunity here at home, because who knows, if I would have hit it in Chicago, maybe I don’t get that ball back,” said McCutchen per Will Aldritch. “It’s great for it to work out the way that it did.”
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Currently three seasons into his second stint with the organization that drafted him, McCutchen has spent 12 of his 17 MLB seasons with the Pirates. The future Hall of Famer continues to be an important piece at the top of the lineup, and is hitting .263 with six home runs and 25 RBI over 205 at-bats this season.
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Featured image via David Frerker/Imagn Images