The Pittsburgh Pirates are one of the most storied franchises in all of baseball. A whole generation of baseball fans are unaware of that fact, thanks largely in part to 17- straight losing seasons.
2010 will very likely be the 18th-straight season of losing for the Pirates and their fans.
However, it finally appears the team is done retooling and is heading toward respectability.
No player embodies the youth movement of the team more so than Andrew McCutchen.
Don't feel alone if you haven't heard of McCutchen. It's hard to get noticed while playing for the worst franchise in the game.
After a stellar rookie season, McCutchen will very likely be a household name by the end of this season.
Despite not making his major league debut until June 4, the Pirates center fielder finished fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting.
In just 108 games, McCutchen hit .286 with 12 home runs and 54 RBI from the lead-off spot. He stole 22 bases while only being caught five times. He showed great patience for such a young hitter, walking 54 times for an on-base percentage of .365. He slugged .471, hitting 26 doubles and nine triples.
It's quite clear that the 23-year-old is already quite comfortable at the plate. His speed and strong arm make him a very good defender, as well. McCutchen is every scout's dream: a prototypical five-tool player.
How valuable was McCutchen to the entire organization? He was voted the MVP for the Pirates and Triple-A Indianapolis—even though he played in only 49 games for their top minor league team.
McCutchen enters the 2010 season as the unquestioned face of the franchise. That may not seem like a big deal for a perennial loser like the Pirates, but fans recognize talent when they see it. It's hard to argue with fans who have seen players like Wagner, Clemente, Stargell, and Bonds.
Garrett Jones, Pedro Alvarez, and Jose Tabata all seem to be potentially good players who share in the upcoming turnaround for the Pirates, but McCutchen was the first—and he very well could be the best of the group.
Some critics believe his power won't develop, but there's not any reason to think that. He's already proven to be a disciplined hitter, and he still has time to add weight and become stronger. If he can do that without sacrificing his speed, McCutchen could turn into one of the most exciting players in the game.
How good can McCutchen be? While calling any player that has only played in 108 career games a future superstar can be dangerous, he definitely has the makings of one.
Should he remain in the lead-off spot, he could turn into a poor man's version of Rickey Henderson. To even make such a comparison shows just how much talent the youngster possesses. He may never steal as many bases in a season as the recent Hall of Famer, but he should have no problem swiping 30 bases a year.
Add in the power, plate discipline, strong arm, and flashiness to that speed, and you have one of the most exciting players in baseball during the next decade. Baseball world, meet the game's next superstar: Andrew McCutchen.
To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here.
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