McCutchen Continues To Keep Composure Hit After Hit

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) - Pitching inside to try and get outs is just part of the game of baseball.

So is hitting batters. But there's a difference between trying to get outs and hitting someone with a fastball square in the back. Unfortunately, Andrew McCutchen knows this all to well.

The Pirates center fielder left Saturday's game against the Braves after being hit in the elbow by a pitch, he was also hit by a pitch on Friday.

McCutchen doesn't have any structural damage to his elbow, but he didn't want to risk any further damage by trying to stay in the game.

"I knew trying to grip a bat would probably be nearly impossible so I just came out," McCutchen said.

While the two most recent hits were most likely unintentional, it's hard to forget some of the more notable times he has been plunked.

A quick YouTube search of, "McCutchen hit by pitch" can bring back plenty of memories. For example the time he was hit by a 95 mph fastball by Randall Delgado last season.

"These guys are making sure that they are staying tight on Andrew at times and he's obviously taken his fair share of hits and it's something we are all aware of," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "I think he handles it in a very professional manner."

McCutchen has proven that he can take a hit and just move on without letting it affect his game but he admits it's something that he's learned to do over time.

Before Saturday's game McCutchen recalled playing in the minor leagues and admiring the way Derek Jeter dealt with adversity during games.

"I would see him get hit, but you would never see him throw his helmet down, you would never see him going off on anybody and the whole time I would be like, 'How do you do that?'" McCutchen said. "If I'm frustrated I'm going to show it but the older I've gotten, the more that stuff really doesn't matter."

When he does get hit by a pitch or brushed at the plate, he said he thinks about the kids that are watching and instead of letting emotions get the best of him he tries to respond by doing what he does best.

"It's all a part of the game and it's a lot sweeter when something like that happens and you come up at the next at bat and you deliver," McCutchen said. "It's a lot better than getting frustrated and screaming and yelling."

He doesn't know exactly how he manages to keep his cool but he does know that he's sick of having do dodge fastballs.

"I'm not close to the plate, pitches are just up and in," McCutchen said. "It's pretty tough, I hate getting hit but worse than that I guess pitchers don't like getting their ERA ran up."

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