Andrew McCutchen will get a chance to make an impact away from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2026.

The Texas Rangers announced Monday that McCutchen made the team’s Opening Day roster. They signed the 39-year-old to a minor league contract earlier this month following a three-year return to Pittsburgh.

Rangers manager Skip Schumaker discussed what McCutchen brings to the clubhouse, per team broadcaster Jared Sandler.

“We tried to identify a player with veteran experience that could hit lefties at a high clip,” Schumaker said. “And MVP Andrew McCutchen was available, and we’re grateful he was still out there. He came in and performed well right away.”

McCutchen has played just 20 games in the outfield over the past three years. Skip Schumaker can see the 2012 Gold Glove Award winner getting some defensive reps, but he’ll spend more time as a designated hitter.

However, McCutchen appears poised for reduced playing time with the Rangers. The 2023 World Series champions could use him in the short end of a platoon.

McCutchen sported a .353 on-base percentage against lefties last year and owns a .901 career OPS against them. That makes him a sensible pairing with the left-handed Joc Pederson at DH.

“Just a really valuable piece to either come off the bench in a high-leverage spot, or also potentially start against left-handed pitching,” Schumaker said.

McCutchen won an MVP and four Silver Slugger awards during the first nine seasons of his career in Pittsburgh. He returned to the Pirates in 2023 after spending five years with four different organizations.

Now that he made the big league roster, the Pirates could see McCutchen when they play the Rangers at Globe Life Field in a three-game series starting on April 21.

More MLB: Pirates Writer Compares Star Pitching Prospect To Paul Skenes