North Shore Notes
On The Farm: Andrew McCutchen
By Joe Giardina

It's been 13 years since centerfielder Andy Van Slyke roamed the turf at Three Rivers Stadium. It's safe to say that the Pirates haven't had a true centerfielder since. Jacob Brumfield, Jermaine Allensworth, Adrian Brown, Chad Hermanson, Tike Redman and Chris Duffy are just a few who have unsuccessfully tried to anchor the Pirates' outfield since then.

Twenty-year-old double A centerfielder Andrew McCutchen hopes to put an end to that.

The 5'11, 170 pound McCutchen was selected out of high school by the Pirates in the first round of the 2005 draft. In his first two years of pro ball, McCutchen could do no wrong, batting a combined .298 with 19 home runs and 40 stolen bases. But starting the 2007 season in the cold weather in Altoona, McCutchen struggled for the first time in his pro career, batting just .214 with an on base percentage below .300 through the first two months.

"At the beginning of the season it was something new for me," McCutchen said. "Playing in 20 or 30 degree weather, in snow flurries, I never played in anything like that so I just had to learn how to adapt to it."

As the weather heated up, so did the native of Fort Meade, Florida. Since June 1st he has hit at a .282 clip, raising his average 30 points. Despite those early season struggles, he continues to impress Pirates' upper management.

"Offensively, this guy has a very good approach," Brian Graham, the director of player development for the Pirates, said. "He understands the strike zone, he hits the ball hard to all fields and he doesn't swing at bad pitches. He is very mature for a player his age."

While his approach on offense has stayed the same, his defense has undergone a few alterations. Working with Pirates' coaches has taught him to be more technical.

"My defense has really improved," he said. "Before I got drafted I was just an outfielder. I didn't really know the technique of going to fly balls and ground balls. You've got to learn what to do and what angles to take and you can get to the ball much quicker so it makes you seem that much faster."

Not that McCutchen needs to seem much faster. One of the best parts of his game is his speed. He has been thrown out only once in 12 attempts this season, which is an impressive percentage, if a low number of attempts for a lead-off hitter.

"I know it's a part of my game I need to work on because I know with my speed I can be a very good base stealer," he said. "But I'm doing very well in it right now."

Rated the Pirates' top prospect by Baseball America, McCutchen is believed by many to be the one to help turn around the Pirates recent losing ways. It might seem like a lot for a 20-year-old to handle, but he seems to have it in perspective.

"I have people in this organization, people on this team that I'm playing with right now that have been in my shoes," he said. "Neil Walker, he's in the same position as me. You could say that takes the pressure off. They're not just looking at one person; they're looking at others also. And at the same time if I'm struggling with something I can always go to him because we can really relate because we're in the same boat."

So when will that boat arrive at PNC Park?

"I don't want to go there," he said. "I don't want to put that kind of pressure on myself."