Andrew McCutchen among the favourites for NL MVP – MLB News
The Baseball Writers’ Association of America is to announce the MLB American League and National League Most Valuable Player Awards this Thursday, November 15. Among the Top-5 nominees is the Pittsburgh Pirates' Andrew McCutchen.
Buster Posey, Yadier Molina, Chase Headley and Ryan Braun are other candidates. While each player will draw enormous attention from the fans of their respective teams, it is McCutchen who will be the centre of attention for the Pirates.
The Pittsburgh Pirates, apparently, await evidently for a bright future ahead. Here is why.
Their performance this year was a resounding recognition of the talent that they have stocked. Among other players who elevated themselves and raised the ranks of the Pirates, this season was Andrew McCutchen.
He is quickly making a breakthrough into stardom. Snagging the first Rawlings Gold Glove Award served as the evidence of his defensive prowess, committing only one error throughout the season. That feat placed him next to top National League Central fielder with a .997 fielding percentage.
The Gold Glove did not come easy. He was faced with far tougher and experienced competitors such as Cincinnati Reds’ Drew Stubbs and Atlanta Braves’ Michael Bourn. The latter has remained Gold Glove winner on two occasions.
To be counted upon the elite class of defenders, player’s ascent to stardom does require winning Gold Glove which is decided every year by voting among managers and coaches. However, coaches and managers of the respective teams cannot vote for their own players.
That is where Andrew McCutchen demonstrated his uniqueness. He outsmarted all the rivals to become only the seventh Pirates’ outfielder to win Gold Glove.
It was earlier this year that the club decided to extend the contract with the supremely talented player. The $51.5 million contract extension for six years proved auspicious for both the Pirates and the outfielder.
Being in the National League Central, the Pirates’ outfielder also booked his place for the National League All-Star Game for the second consecutive year.
With multiple achievements, McCutchen indisputably occupies prominent attention. That he was picked up for the Top-5 serves as an incontrovertible evidence of it.
In 593 at-bats, he retained a .327 average in 2012 with 31 long balls and 96 RBIs. Imbuing with confidence and aflame with the desire to do more for the Pirates, McCutchen remains a promising talent for the Pirates.
It will be interesting to see if McCutchen wins the NL MVP when the final result are announced on Thursday. There is no doubt that he is a very talented player that has given the Pirates' fans something to cheer about.
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