McCutchen still in Pirates' big-league camp

Andrew McCutchen

Prospect's play extends his stay

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

By Paul Meyer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Pirates sent Neil Walker and Brian Bixler to their minor-league camp yesterday, leaving the young player who has created the most buzz this spring still in the major-league camp.

Andrew McCutchen, the Pirates' top draft pick in 2005, won't make the 25-man opening-day roster, but it shouldn't be too long before he reaches the major leagues -- at the ripe age of 20.

"He's done a fantastic job," general manager Dave Littlefield said. "He's certainly advanced and continues to open our eyes. It appears he's not that far away from being a major-league player. He obviously still needs some more time in the minor leagues, but he's someone we think will be here for many years."

He has already been in major-league camp for many days, another indication the Pirates think highly of the center fielder.

"We think it's important because of how advanced he is that he gets some more time in big-league camp in the bigger venues against the 'A' teams and the 'A' pitching," Littlefield said. "We think this will help him continue to progress."

McCutchen, a right-handed batter, has hit .293 this spring in a team-high 41 at-bats. That's a lot more activity than he had last spring in his first year in big-league camp -- 17 at-bats and an early dispatch to minor-league camp.

"I'm a lot more comfortable than I was last year -- a lot more cool, calm and collected," McCutchen said. "Last year, I felt like I put a little too much pressure on myself. I wasn't really playing my game last year. I was a little too hyped up."

This spring, McCutchen has created the hype.

Not only has he demonstrated that he's not overmatched at the plate, but he also has played a strong center field, highlighted by his hat trick of spectacular defensive plays Thursday against Cincinnati.

"It seems like I've showed them I can handle this level," McCutchen said.

He played in only 20 games for Class AA Altoona last season after a late promotion from low Class A Hickory. It appeared before spring training that McCutchen would return to Altoona to begin this season, but that thinking might have changed.

Instead, he could go right to Class AAA Indianapolis.

"There's a consideration of that because of his continued progress and how well he's performed," Littlefield said. "We'll kick that around some."

Altoona or Indianapolis: It doesn't seem to matter much. McCutchen appears on the fast track to PNC Park.

"He's probably one the best young hitters I've ever seen," hitting instructor Jeff Manto said. "He has fast hands. He has a savvy for hitting. He has instincts. And the bat speed's just off the charts."

"I've been very impressed," outfield instructor Bill Virdon said. "He seems to have the knack of getting jumps and he's got speed to go with it. The only thing he's not going to have is a great arm, but he'll have a usable arm where his speed gets him close enough to where he can keep runners from running."

"He has a short swing with plenty of juice in it. That's going to allow him to be a good hitter. said Rusty Kuntz, another outfield instructor. "Then there's his knowledge of the game. He can adapt to the information you give him and he can Rolodex through this stuff so quickly."

Rolodex?

"You give him something, he applies it and you turn the page," Kuntz said, demonstrating. "You take the next thing, he applies it and you turn the page."

Walker, the Pine-Richland High School graduate, also has been a quick study this spring. He has made a seamless transition from having been a catcher to becoming a third baseman. He'll likely continue that transition with Altoona at the start of the season.



Neil Walker

"We're very pleased with his progress at third base," Littlefield said. "He's done an excellent job in a short amount of time. I think we're all surprised at this level with the speed of the game that he's been able to adjust as quickly as he has."

Walker, the Pirates' first-round pick in 2004, said he was told about three weeks before spring training that he would be moving to third base.

"So I had some time to put catching behind me," he said. "I'm happy with how everything worked out. I appreciate the opportunity I got [in big-league camp]. You don't get a good feel for playing third base until you play third base. You can take all the ground balls you want, but until you experience every little play it's tough to get a grasp of it."

Walker batted .370 in 27 at-bats. He hit two home runs and had seven RBIs.

Bixler, the Pirates' second-round pick in 2004 out of Eastern Michigan University, hit .361 in 36 at-bats. He'll likely start this season as the regular shortstop with Indianapolis.

"I'll take positive things from this and run with it and make the best of it," Bixler said of being in big-league camp for the first time. "It was a lot of fun. It was good to get to know everybody on a more personal level."

"He's going to be a big leaguer," shortstop Jack Wilson said. "He has a great work ethic. He goes about his business. And he's a good player. You put all those things together, I think he's going to have a nice career."