Confident McCutchen not fazed by benching: 'I'm still me'

The Pittsburgh Pirates hosted the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on Friday and a familiar face made a return to his regular spot in the starting lineup when Andrew McCutchen slotted into the three hole and manned center field.

McCutchen's return comes on the heels of his benching by manager Clint Hurdle earlier this week with the hope that some time off could help the struggling star out of a season-long slump.

"I feel good," McCutchen told reporters Friday, according to Stephen J.Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Ready to go. Three days (down) or not, I’m ready."

McCutchen sat out the entire three-game series against the Atlanta Braves, in which the Pirates lost two of three.

"I’m not a person that sits the bench," McCutchen explained. "I’m an everyday player. It’s not something I wanted to do. Definitely not bred for that type of thing. I really feel like hopefully that’s the last time something like that happens."

Although the decision to bench the former National League MVP was an unpopular one, McCutchen said nothing has changed about the way he's going to approach things.

"No time to hit the panic button," he said. "I’m still me. Nothing has changed. Just because I’m hitting .240 doesn’t mean I’m not Andrew McCutchen. That’s what people need to remember."

The five-time All-Star is hitting a career-low .241/.311/.408 to go along with 15 home runs and 43 RBIs, which includes 107 strikeouts in 431 plate appearances.