With steal against Pirates, Brewers DH Andrew McCutchen joins exclusive 200 HR/200 SB club

Andrew McCutchen always envisioned he would gain membership into one of baseball’s most exclusive clubs, and as soon as he saw the schedule he knew where he wanted to complete the feat.

The Milwaukee Brewers’ designated hitter — a five-time All-Star and the 2013 NL MVP with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2009-17 — became the 51st player in MLB history with 200 home runs and 200 stolen bases when he swiped second in the ninth inning of a 12-8 win Tuesday night at PNC Park.

“It was nice being able to get it done here,” McCutchen said. “You had the one game at home (after stealing No. 199) and I didn’t get it there. Well, the perfect place to do it is here. I was like, ‘We’ve got a three-game series here. I’ve got to get it.’”

The 35-year-old McCutchen confirmed that the Pirates are giving him second base to commemorate the moment when he joined Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout as the only active players in the 200-200 club. McCutchen has 270 career home runs and 200 stolen bases, while Trout has 314 homers and 203 steals.

“It’s good to be able to have that milestone,” McCutchen said. “It’s nice being in good company with that guy Mike Trout over there right now.”

McCutchen stole 20-plus bases (125 total) in each of his first five seasons with the Pirates but has only 29 steals since being traded to the San Francisco Giants in January 2018. He evolved from a speedy player who hit for average to one who now hits for power, especially after tearing the ACL in his left knee in 2019.

“Honestly, when the beginning of my career started, I really felt like I would get 200 pretty easily,” McCutchen said. “That was always my thought process, that I would get there quick. The game changed. I was always the guy, when I came up from the minor leagues, it was, if you get on base, go. I got to the big leagues, my first half season I got called up in and first full season, that still was kind of the mentality there. Then I put a little bit of weight on, they were like, we’ll hit you third, and it kind of changed. It changed over time. I’m not stealing as many bases as I once was.”

McCutchen went 1 for 4 with a walk and was thrown out by Pirates catcher Roberto Perez while attempting to steal second base in the fourth inning, so he was excited to get another opportunity after he singled with one out in the ninth inning.

“I thought I had it the first time,” McCutchen said. “I thought I was in there. I felt like I was. I know it was close though, but the umpire called me out. So I knew it would be hard to overturn. I was just like, ‘Get on base so I can do it again.’ It was a tough game at first, but being able to get on base that last at-bat, the opportunity to do it again and score the run as well, yeah, it was good.”

McCutchen became the 10th Brewers play to reach the 200-200 mark, a list that includes Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Robin Yount and Paul Molitor. Baseball’s all-time leader in home runs and steals is another former Pirates star: Barry Bonds had 762 homers and 514 steals.

“I can assume it’s pretty good company,” McCutchen said. “You think about this day and age baseball, the way the game is being played, we really don’t steal as many bases. There are still going to be guys out there that’s going to do it. Off the top of my head, (Ronald) Acuña will probably be there pretty quickly. But it doesn’t happen a whole lot. It’s good company to be in and it’s nice to be able to say I did it.”