Andrew McCutchen Will Be Ready For Opening Day
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) - Pirates centerfielder Andrew McCutchen played in his first Spring Training game since March 12 and said he will be ready to go for Opening Day in Cincinnati.
"It has never been an issue, if I need 10 at bats I will go over to Pirates City and get them," McCutchen said. "I'm not worried about not being ready [for Opening Day]."
McCutchen said he would have played through the lower body injury if it were the regular season.
"I came back from a broken rib (during last season), this is not an issue," he said. "I don't want to strain anything or make anything worse right now. It's okay to make it worse when it counts."
McCutchen also spent a good portion of pregame with 9-year-old Blaise Fischer. Make-A-Wish and the Pirates granted the Ambridge native's dream of meeting his favorite player.
"Just being able to spend some time with him and him to get to know me more than just what he sees on TV," McCutchen said. "He's actually able to see me on a personal level. It's always great to spend time with those kids."
Fischer visited Pirates City and had dinner and an overnight stay at the team's training facility in Bradenton on Monday night. Fischer also threw out the first pitch to McCutchen to start Tuesday's game with Baltimore.