Mar 1, 2007 3 min read

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) – When the Pittsburgh Pirates watch outfielder Andrew McCutchen play, they do not see a 20-year-old with one full season of professional experience who is bound to start the coming season in Double-A. They see a top prospect who, bucking the major-league odds, could finish his summer at PNC Park.

“The ball’s in his court,” Pittsburgh general manager Dave Littlefield said. “We’ll see how he does. We want him to do well.”

Littlefield generally is loath to offer predictions or forecasts for prospects. But McCutchen, considered by many national publications to be among the top 15-20 players in any of the minor leagues, is the rare exception.

Since the Pirates made McCutchen their first-round draft pick in 2005, he has rocketed through the system. His career totals through 192 games are a .298 average, 36 doubles, 19 home runs, 109 RBIs and 40 stolen bases.

McCutchen began last season with Hickory in low Single-A and was promoted with about a month remaining to Double-A Altoona, skipping high Single-A along the way. He was the youngest player in Altoona history at 19 years, 10 months, but he homered in his home debut and batted .308. Tim Leiper, the Altoona manager, had McCutchen batting sixth in his first game, then bumped him to third.

“It was very impressive how quickly he adjusted,” Leiper said.

McCutchen’s adjustment is all the more impressive when considering he was drafted out of a Florida high school.

“No question he’s already been above expectations,” Littlefield said. “Just look at the masses of players who, in their first full professional season, can finish up in Double-A. And this was a high school signee.”

McCutchen’s view is that he became a better player when facing better pitching.

“A pitcher’s not going to be wild like you see in A-ball,” he said. “A hitter like me, that helps a lot. I don’t have to worry about focusing above my head or below my knees or whatever. I can pinpoint a lot better.”

Although McCutchen is not big – he is listed at 5 feet 11, 170 pounds – scouts rave about nearly every facet of his play. He has an exceptional eye at the plate, his bat speed is just as good, and he drives the ball with force to all fields. He also has above-average speed and glovework.

Brian Graham, Pittsburgh’s director of player development, usually can rattle off a list of weaknesses for every player in the system. The only area he sees McCutchen needing to address is experience.

“His performance will dictate how quickly he moves through the system and when he arrives in Pittsburgh,” Graham said. McCutchen plays mostly center field in the minors, but he might take a corner upon arrival in Pittsburgh.

He envisions that day, the way many do, as happening soon.

NOTES: Pittsburgh opened its exhibition schedule by beating Manatee Community College, 8-1, Wednesday at McKechnie Field. Yoslan Herrera, pitching competitively for the first time since defecting from Cuba in 2005, started and worked two perfect innings. … The Pirates open their Grapefruit League schedule today against the visiting Cincinnati Reds. … Outfielder Xavier Nady was in Pittsburgh on Wednesday for more tests on his inflamed intestine. He is due to rejoin the team Thursday.