Andrew McCutchen
Encyclopedia
Andrew Stefan McCutchen (born October 10, 1986) is an American professional baseball
outfielder
with the Pittsburgh Pirates
of Major League Baseball
.
and ran track
.
, was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates
11th overall in the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft
and signed with the Pirates instead of going to Florida. He started for the South Atlantic League
's All-Star team in 2006, his first full season as a professional. At the end of that year, the Pirates named him the organization's Minor League Player of the Year.
to the Atlanta Braves
, McCutchen was called up to the majors for the first time. He made his debut the next day, playing the now vacant center field spot and batting leadoff against the New York Mets
. He singled in his first career at-bat, off starter Mike Pelfrey. He ended the day with two singles, an RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base
in four at bats. He recorded his first career four-hit game five days later, against McLouth and the Braves, in a 7-6 Pirates loss. Two of his hits were triples
, making him the first Pirate with two triples in a game since Tike Redman
accomplished the feat in 2003.
On June 17, 2009, McCutchen hit his first career home run off of Francisco Liriano
of the Minnesota Twins
, a two-run shot in the 3rd inning. He recorded a second hit as well, marking a hit in 11 of his first 13 major league games, with six of those games featuring multiple hits. On June 25, 2009, he had his first career walk-off hit, off Cleveland Indians
closer Matt Herges
. Teammates Jack Wilson and Eric Hinske
both singled prior to McCutchen, who then hit a bloop single to left to score Wilson for the winning run. "He's an impressive looking young player. He really is." said then Indians manager Eric Wedge
.
On August 1, 2009, against the Washington Nationals
he went 4-for-5 with three home runs and six RBI. He hit a solo home run in the 1st inning to lead off the game against Nationals starter Craig Stammen
, a two-run shot in the 4th inning off reliever Tyler Clippard
and then a three-run homer in the 6th off Logan Kensing
. He fell a grand slam
short of a home run cycle. He became the 10th Pirates player ever to hit three home runs in a single game, and the first one to do it during his rookie year. "It was just one of those days," said McCutchen. "It was one of those days where everything worked, everything went your way. You got your pitches, and I was able to hit them, I was able to get them out. It's just a day that I know I won't forget."
He flashed a different side to his game 10 days later against the Colorado Rockies
at Coors Field
, stealing a career-high three bases in a game. While stealing off three different Rockies pitchers, he swiped third base twice, drew three walks and scored three times in a 7-3 Pirates victory. "I had more opportunities to run tonight," he said. "You have that chance when you are on base a lot. I was on base and got good jumps."
He hit his first walk-off home run on August 25, 2009, off Brad Lidge
of the Philadelphia Phillies
.
He finished his rookie season with a .286 batting average
, 12 home runs, 54 runs batted in, and 22 stolen bases in 108 games.
McCutchen was named the Baseball America Rookie of the Year
for 2009 on October 16, 2009. He finished fourth in the voting for the National League Rookie of the Year Award.
manager Bobby Cox
. "Hitting. Running. Defense. Throwing. He's got it all. He catches the ball like Andruw Jones
did when he was 19. You can't hit a ball [past him] out there. He's got lightning in that bat too."
He posted a career day against the Chicago Cubs
on May 14, 2010, going 5-for-5 with five runs scored in a 10-7 Pirates win. Teammate Garrett Jones
also recorded five hits, making McCutchen and Jones the first Pirate duo since Hall of Fame
inductee Willie Stargell
and Bob Robertson
accomplished the feat in 1970. "I guess we were just kind of competing against each other," McCutchen said, laughing. "I don't know. I'd get a hit, he'd get a hit. He'd hit a homer, I'd hit a homer." McCutchen finished the month of May with career-best numbers, hitting .327 with a .901 OPS
, which drew comparisons with Tampa Bay Rays
All-Star
Carl Crawford
. Due to his speed and ability to rack up extra-base hits, McCutchen's wins above the average of +4.5 place him in elite company as one of the best center-fielders in baseball.
McCutchen was, however, not named to the 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Team. Instead, pitcher Evan Meek
was awarded the honor of being the Pirates representative, although Meek himself stated that McCutchen was "very deserving" and should have gone as well.
After hitting .226 in August, McCutchen batted .326 with 22 runs and 17 RBIs in September. He also recorded 12 multi-hit games from September 3-October 3. McCutchen, an "on-base machine" for the Pirates, said about the changes from August to September, "Honestly, I don't think I'm doing anything any different right now. You swing, and the ball finds a hole. That's it. That's the game of baseball." He finished his second professional season hitting .286 once more while adding 94 runs, 16 home runs, 56 RBIs and 33 stolen bases.
as a member of the National League All-Star team at the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
in Phoenix. The announcement was shown on the PNC Park scoreboard, and McCutchen left the dugout to tip his hat to the cheering fans. On August 30, 2011, McCutchen hit a ninth inning homer against the Houston Astros to become the eighth Pirates player to record at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in one season. He was the first Pirate to accomplish the feat since former Pirates center fielder Nate McLouth in 2008. ." After a disappointing month of September, McCutchen finished the season with a .259 batting average and team highs of 23 homeruns, 23 stolen bases, 89 RBIs, and 87 runs. He was nominated as the Pirates' representative for the Hank Aaron Award
.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
Early years
During McCutchen's senior year at Fort Meade High School in Fort Meade, Florida in 2004 he batted .474 with 8 Home runs, 40 RBI, 45 stolen bases, and only 5 strikeouts. He also played footballAmerican football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and ran track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
.
Minor Leagues
McCutchen, who had signed with the University of FloridaUniversity of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
11th overall in the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft
2005 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
and signed with the Pirates instead of going to Florida. He started for the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
's All-Star team in 2006, his first full season as a professional. At the end of that year, the Pirates named him the organization's Minor League Player of the Year.
2009
On June 3, 2009, after the Pirates traded starting center fielder Nate McLouthNate McLouth
Nathan Richard McLouth is a Major League Baseball player. Primarily a center fielder, McLouth bats from the left side and throws from the right. He is 5' 11" tall and weighs 185 pounds...
to the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, McCutchen was called up to the majors for the first time. He made his debut the next day, playing the now vacant center field spot and batting leadoff against the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. He singled in his first career at-bat, off starter Mike Pelfrey. He ended the day with two singles, an RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
in four at bats. He recorded his first career four-hit game five days later, against McLouth and the Braves, in a 7-6 Pirates loss. Two of his hits were triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, making him the first Pirate with two triples in a game since Tike Redman
Tike Redman
Julian Jawann "Tike" Redman is a Major League Baseball center fielder who is a free agent. His first year in the major leagues was...
accomplished the feat in 2003.
On June 17, 2009, McCutchen hit his first career home run off of Francisco Liriano
Francisco Liriano
Francisco Liriano y Casillas is a left-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Minnesota Twins.-Professional career:...
of the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, a two-run shot in the 3rd inning. He recorded a second hit as well, marking a hit in 11 of his first 13 major league games, with six of those games featuring multiple hits. On June 25, 2009, he had his first career walk-off hit, off Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
closer Matt Herges
Matt Herges
Matthew Tyler Herges is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher.Herges is an alumnus of Illinois State University and is the brother-in-law of former Major League Baseball player Todd Hollandsworth....
. Teammates Jack Wilson and Eric Hinske
Eric Hinske
Eric Scott Hinske is a Major League Baseball outfielder, first baseman, and third baseman currently an Atlanta Braves organization...
both singled prior to McCutchen, who then hit a bloop single to left to score Wilson for the winning run. "He's an impressive looking young player. He really is." said then Indians manager Eric Wedge
Eric Wedge
Eric Michael Wedge is a Major League Baseball manager and former catcher, and is the current manager of the Seattle Mariners. As a player, Wedge attended Northrop High School in Fort Wayne and played on the school's state champion baseball team in 1983...
.
On August 1, 2009, against the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
he went 4-for-5 with three home runs and six RBI. He hit a solo home run in the 1st inning to lead off the game against Nationals starter Craig Stammen
Craig Stammen
Craig N. Stammen is a pitcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball.Stammen grew up and still resides in North Star, Ohio, a village about south of Coldwater...
, a two-run shot in the 4th inning off reliever Tyler Clippard
Tyler Clippard
Tyler Lee Clippard is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals.-New York Yankees:Clippard was drafted in the 9th round of the 2003 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees out of J. W. Mitchell High School...
and then a three-run homer in the 6th off Logan Kensing
Logan Kensing
Logan French Kensing is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball.-Florida Marlins:...
. He fell a grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
short of a home run cycle. He became the 10th Pirates player ever to hit three home runs in a single game, and the first one to do it during his rookie year. "It was just one of those days," said McCutchen. "It was one of those days where everything worked, everything went your way. You got your pitches, and I was able to hit them, I was able to get them out. It's just a day that I know I won't forget."
He flashed a different side to his game 10 days later against the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
at Coors Field
Coors Field
Coors Field, located in Denver, Colorado, is the home field of Major League Baseball's Colorado Rockies. It is named for the Coors Brewing Company of Golden, Colorado, which purchased the naming rights to the park prior to its completion in 1995...
, stealing a career-high three bases in a game. While stealing off three different Rockies pitchers, he swiped third base twice, drew three walks and scored three times in a 7-3 Pirates victory. "I had more opportunities to run tonight," he said. "You have that chance when you are on base a lot. I was on base and got good jumps."
He hit his first walk-off home run on August 25, 2009, off Brad Lidge
Brad Lidge
Bradley Thomas "Brad" Lidge is a reliever who is currently a free agent. Nicknamed "Lights Out", he is the all-time leader in strikeouts per nine innings among pitchers with at least 200 appearances in their career...
of the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.
He finished his rookie season with a .286 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, 12 home runs, 54 runs batted in, and 22 stolen bases in 108 games.
McCutchen was named the Baseball America Rookie of the Year
Baseball America Rookie of the Year
The Baseball America Rookie of the Year is an annual award granted by Baseball America to the best rookie in the major leagues.-Awardees:-See also:*Baseball America #Baseball America All-Rookie Team*Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award...
for 2009 on October 16, 2009. He finished fourth in the voting for the National League Rookie of the Year Award.
2010
McCutchen began the 2010 season as the Pirates' every day center fielder as a major hope for the team going forward, with praise coming from all over the league. "He's an All-Star. This year, probably," said Atlanta BravesAtlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
manager Bobby Cox
Bobby Cox
Robert Joseph "Bobby" Cox is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and manager. He first led the Atlanta Braves from 1978 to 1981, and then managed the Toronto Blue Jays from 1982 to 1985. He later rejoined the Braves in 1985 as a general manager...
. "Hitting. Running. Defense. Throwing. He's got it all. He catches the ball like Andruw Jones
Andruw Jones
Andruw Rudolf Jones is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is a free agent.Jones made his debut during the 1996 season. In the 1996 World Series, Jones became the youngest player to ever homered in the postseason...
did when he was 19. You can't hit a ball [past him] out there. He's got lightning in that bat too."
He posted a career day against the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
on May 14, 2010, going 5-for-5 with five runs scored in a 10-7 Pirates win. Teammate Garrett Jones
Garrett Jones
Garrett Thomas Jones is a Major League Baseball outfielder/first baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates.In 1999, Jones graduated from Victor J. Andrew High School in Tinley Park, Illinois....
also recorded five hits, making McCutchen and Jones the first Pirate duo since Hall of Fame
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
inductee Willie Stargell
Willie Stargell
Wilver Dornell "Willie" Stargell , nicknamed "Pops" in the later years of his career, was a Major League Baseball left fielder and first baseman. He played his entire 21-year baseball career with the Pittsburgh Pirates...
and Bob Robertson
Bob Robertson
Robert Eugene Robertson is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball. Robertson, who batted and threw right-handed, played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays...
accomplished the feat in 1970. "I guess we were just kind of competing against each other," McCutchen said, laughing. "I don't know. I'd get a hit, he'd get a hit. He'd hit a homer, I'd hit a homer." McCutchen finished the month of May with career-best numbers, hitting .327 with a .901 OPS
On-base plus slugging
On-base plus slugging is a sabermetric baseball statistic calculated as the sum of a player's on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The ability of a player to both get on base and to hit for power, two important hitting skills, are represented. An OPS of .900 or higher in Major League...
, which drew comparisons with Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
Carl Crawford
Carl Crawford
Carl Demonte Crawford is an American professional baseball outfielder who plays for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. He bats and throws left-handed...
. Due to his speed and ability to rack up extra-base hits, McCutchen's wins above the average of +4.5 place him in elite company as one of the best center-fielders in baseball.
McCutchen was, however, not named to the 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Team. Instead, pitcher Evan Meek
Evan Meek
Evan David Meek is a right-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was named to the 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. His nicknames include Super Meek and Evan Almighty-Early career:Meek attended Inglemoor High School in Kenmore, Washington...
was awarded the honor of being the Pirates representative, although Meek himself stated that McCutchen was "very deserving" and should have gone as well.
After hitting .226 in August, McCutchen batted .326 with 22 runs and 17 RBIs in September. He also recorded 12 multi-hit games from September 3-October 3. McCutchen, an "on-base machine" for the Pirates, said about the changes from August to September, "Honestly, I don't think I'm doing anything any different right now. You swing, and the ball finds a hole. That's it. That's the game of baseball." He finished his second professional season hitting .286 once more while adding 94 runs, 16 home runs, 56 RBIs and 33 stolen bases.
2011
During the Saturday night game on July 9, 2011, it was announced that McCutchen would take the place of injured Ryan BraunRyan Braun
Ryan Joseph Braun is an American right-handed Major League Baseball left fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers. A perennial standout, he was ranked No...
as a member of the National League All-Star team at the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 82nd in-season exhibition game between the All-Stars of the National League and the American League ; the leagues composing Major League Baseball. The event was held on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, home of the...
in Phoenix. The announcement was shown on the PNC Park scoreboard, and McCutchen left the dugout to tip his hat to the cheering fans. On August 30, 2011, McCutchen hit a ninth inning homer against the Houston Astros to become the eighth Pirates player to record at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in one season. He was the first Pirate to accomplish the feat since former Pirates center fielder Nate McLouth in 2008. ." After a disappointing month of September, McCutchen finished the season with a .259 batting average and team highs of 23 homeruns, 23 stolen bases, 89 RBIs, and 87 runs. He was nominated as the Pirates' representative for the Hank Aaron Award
Hank Aaron Award
The Hank Aaron Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball players selected as the top hitter in each league, as voted on by baseball fans and members of the media. It was introduced in 1999 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Hank Aaron's surpassing of Babe Ruth's career home run mark...
.