Pittsburgh's Buried Treasure

Andrew McCutchen regained his all-star form in June.

- Jerry Crasnick

Andrew McCutchen signed his first professional contract with the Pirates at age 18. He was 24 years old when he made his All Star Game debut, and 26 in 2013 when he led the franchise to its first playoff berth in two decades and won a National League MVP award. Given his record of achievement and all the love that’s been shared, it’s not outlandish to think McCutchen would be in line for one marathon honeymoon.

It didn’t last until his 30th birthday. For such an elite talent, McCutchen has had a heaping dose of humility thrown his way of late. From the 2016 trade deadline through the offseason, he was a walking trade rumor. In early February, he had a position change foisted upon him when the Pirates determined they would be best served with Starling Marte in center field and McCutchen in right. And when McCutchen started terribly this season on top of an uninspired 2016, it was only natural for scouts, fans and analysts to assume his skills were deteriorating.