Nate McLouth
Encyclopedia
Nathan Richard McLouth (born October 28, 1981 in Muskegon, Michigan
) is a Major League Baseball
player. Primarily a center fielder
, McLouth bats from the left side and throws from the right. He is 5' 11" tall and weighs 185 pounds. His last name is commonly mispronounced; the correct pronunciation rhymes with the word "mouth", rather than the word "youth".
, where he stole 179 bases in 180 attempts in his high school career, McLouth was selected by the Pirates in the 25th round of the 2000 June draft. McLouth would have been chosen much sooner (namely by the very interested Boston Red Sox
), but many scouts believed that he had a firm commitment to the University of Michigan
. McLouth was named Michigan's Co-Mr. Baseball, Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year, and USA Today Honorable Mention All American in 2000. After an encouraging debut in full-season ball with the Hickory Crawdads
, he struggled with the high-A Lynchburg Hillcats
in 2002. McLouth rebounded with a strong season at that same level in 2003, however, earning a spot on the league's All-Star team.
McLouth continued to advance steadily through the minors, and on June 29, 2005, he made his major league debut. As a result of an injury to starting center fielder Chris Duffy, McLouth received a substantial amount of playing time through the end of the season. In 109 at-bats, he compiled a .257 batting average
, a .305 on base percentage
, and a .450 slugging percentage.
McLouth made the Pittsburgh Pirates 2006 opening day lineup as a backup outfielder, sending outfielder Jody Gerut
to start the year in Triple-A.
McLouth entered spring training 2008 in a competition with teammate Nyjer Morgan
for the starting job as the team's center fielder. McLouth batted over .300 in the preseason and won the job. He began the 2008 season with a 19-game hitting streak, 20 dating back to 2007, which ended on April 22. McLouth then struggled for the first three weeks of May. However, after seeing his batting average
drop to a season low of .298 on May 21, McLouth rebounded with a four-hit performance the next day against the Milwaukee Brewers
.
McLouth was selected as a reserve to represent the Pirates in the 2008 MLB All-Star Game
, and was among the league leaders in various offensive categories. He also made a clutch throw from center field in the 10th inning to catcher Russell Martin
for an out at the plate that cut down the potential game-winning run for the American League
. Martin later commented that Nate's throw was "perfect". He also led off an inning with in infield single, and in his final at-bat, with the game tied, he hit a long fly ball that was caught just 3 foot (0.9144 m) in front of the warning track
.
In a July 28 game against the Colorado Rockies, McLouth hit a home run that soared over the right field grandstand of PNC Park
and landed in the Allegheny River
(443 ft from homeplate).McLouth received the 2008 Roberto Clemente Award
as "the Pirates player who best exemplifies the standard of excellence achieved by Clemente.
McLouth was second in NL outfielder fielding percentage to Ryan Braun
in 2008, and was awarded the Gold Glove Award
for the outfield for his performance.
McLouth also led the league in doubles in 2008 with 46.
Although not a prolific base stealer, he has been extremely successful when he has attempted to steal. Through 2008, he had been successful in 57 of 62 career attempts, a success rate of .919 (Carlos Beltran
holds the all-time career record for a player with 300 or more career attempts at .881 - reference: http://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_stba.shtml).
for prospects Jeff Locke
, Charlie Morton
and Gorkys Hernández
.
On December 2, 2009, McLouth gave his usual jersey number, #13, to new teammate Billy Wagner
. He switched his number to 24, previously worn by Jordan Schafer
. He returned to wearing #13 for the 2011 season after Wagner retired following the 2010 season.
On June 5, 2010, McLouth had his 500th hit in the Major League.
On September 6, 2010, McLouth hit a fly ball that would have been a grand slam
but instead got robbed by Florida Marlins
outfielder Cameron Maybin
, with the play resulting in a two-run sacrifice fly
.
On July 17, 2011, McLouth hit a solo home run in the bottom of the 8th inning against the Washington Nationals
to tie the game 8-8. It was his 4th home run of the season, and the 1st home run he's hit since May 4th, 2011.
Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,401. The city is the county seat of Muskegon County...
) is a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player. Primarily a center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
, McLouth bats from the left side and throws from the right. He is 5' 11" tall and weighs 185 pounds. His last name is commonly mispronounced; the correct pronunciation rhymes with the word "mouth", rather than the word "youth".
Pittsburgh Pirates
After graduating from Whitehall Sr. High SchoolWhitehall District Schools
Whitehall District Schools is a school district located in Muskegon County, Michigan, and serves the city of Whitehall and the townships of Whitehall, Fruitland, Dalton, Blue Lake and the Village of Lakewood Club.Its mascot is the Viking....
, where he stole 179 bases in 180 attempts in his high school career, McLouth was selected by the Pirates in the 25th round of the 2000 June draft. McLouth would have been chosen much sooner (namely by the very interested Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
), but many scouts believed that he had a firm commitment to the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. McLouth was named Michigan's Co-Mr. Baseball, Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year, and USA Today Honorable Mention All American in 2000. After an encouraging debut in full-season ball with the Hickory Crawdads
Hickory Crawdads
The Hickory Crawdads are a Minor League Baseball team in Hickory, North Carolina, USA. They are a Class A team in the South Atlantic League, and have been a farm team of the Texas Rangers since 2009. Previously, they were a Class A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Crawdads play home games...
, he struggled with the high-A Lynchburg Hillcats
Lynchburg Hillcats
The Lynchburg Hillcats are a minor league baseball team in Lynchburg, Virginia. They are a Class High-A team in the Carolina League, and currently are a farm team of the Atlanta Braves. They had been a farm team of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1995, with the Cincinnati Reds fulfilling the final...
in 2002. McLouth rebounded with a strong season at that same level in 2003, however, earning a spot on the league's All-Star team.
McLouth continued to advance steadily through the minors, and on June 29, 2005, he made his major league debut. As a result of an injury to starting center fielder Chris Duffy, McLouth received a substantial amount of playing time through the end of the season. In 109 at-bats, he compiled a .257 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, a .305 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
, and a .450 slugging percentage.
McLouth made the Pittsburgh Pirates 2006 opening day lineup as a backup outfielder, sending outfielder Jody Gerut
Jody Gerut
Joseph Diego Gerut is a former Major League Baseball center fielder. He attended Jackson Middle School, Willowbrook High School, and later Stanford University...
to start the year in Triple-A.
McLouth entered spring training 2008 in a competition with teammate Nyjer Morgan
Nyjer Morgan
Nyjer Jamid Morgan nicknamed Tony Plush is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers....
for the starting job as the team's center fielder. McLouth batted over .300 in the preseason and won the job. He began the 2008 season with a 19-game hitting streak, 20 dating back to 2007, which ended on April 22. McLouth then struggled for the first three weeks of May. However, after seeing his batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
drop to a season low of .298 on May 21, McLouth rebounded with a four-hit performance the next day against the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.
McLouth was selected as a reserve to represent the Pirates in the 2008 MLB All-Star Game
2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 79th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, New York, home of the New York Yankees, on...
, and was among the league leaders in various offensive categories. He also made a clutch throw from center field in the 10th inning to catcher Russell Martin
Russell Martin
Russell Nathan Jeanson Coltrane Martin, Jr is a Canadian Major League Baseball catcher for the New York Yankees.Martin became the everyday catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers immediately upon his Major League debut, and continued in that role for nearly 5 years...
for an out at the plate that cut down the potential game-winning run for the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
. Martin later commented that Nate's throw was "perfect". He also led off an inning with in infield single, and in his final at-bat, with the game tied, he hit a long fly ball that was caught just 3 foot (0.9144 m) in front of the warning track
Warning track
A warning track is the term for the part of the baseball field that is closest to the wall or fence and is typically made of dirt, instead of grass or artificial turf like most of the field. It runs parallel to the ballpark's wall and looks like a running track...
.
In a July 28 game against the Colorado Rockies, McLouth hit a home run that soared over the right field grandstand of PNC Park
PNC Park
PNC Park is a baseball park located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the fifth home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the city's Major League Baseball franchise. It opened during the 2001 Major League Baseball season, after the controlled implosion of the Pirates' previous home, Three Rivers Stadium...
and landed in the Allegheny River
Allegheny River
The Allegheny River is a principal tributary of the Ohio River; it is located in the Eastern United States. The Allegheny River joins with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River at the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
(443 ft from homeplate).McLouth received the 2008 Roberto Clemente Award
Roberto Clemente Award
The Roberto Clemente Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball player who "best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team", as voted on by baseball fans and members of the media. It is named for Hall of Fame...
as "the Pirates player who best exemplifies the standard of excellence achieved by Clemente.
McLouth was second in NL outfielder fielding percentage to Ryan Braun
Ryan Braun
Ryan Joseph Braun is an American right-handed Major League Baseball left fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers. A perennial standout, he was ranked No...
in 2008, and was awarded the Gold Glove Award
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
for the outfield for his performance.
McLouth also led the league in doubles in 2008 with 46.
Although not a prolific base stealer, he has been extremely successful when he has attempted to steal. Through 2008, he had been successful in 57 of 62 career attempts, a success rate of .919 (Carlos Beltran
Carlos Beltrán
Carlos Iván Beltrán is a Major League Baseball outfielder.-Early life:In his youth, Beltrán excelled in many sports, with volleyball and baseball being his favorites. At his father's urging, he gave up volleyball to concentrate on baseball when he was seventeen...
holds the all-time career record for a player with 300 or more career attempts at .881 - reference: http://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_stba.shtml).
Atlanta Braves
On June 3, 2009, McLouth was traded to the Atlanta BravesAtlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
for prospects Jeff Locke
Jeff Locke
Jeffrey Alan Locke is a major league left-handed starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 6'2", 180 lb. Locke was the first selection in the second round in the 2006 Atlanta Braves Draft.-Early life:...
, Charlie Morton
Charlie Morton (pitcher)
Charles A. Morton is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He stands at 6'5" and weighs in at about 230 lbs. He is a right-hander.-Professional career:...
and Gorkys Hernández
Gorkys Hernández
Gorkys Gustavo Hernández is a Venezuelan professional baseball outfielder in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization currently assigned to their triple A Indianapolis Indians of the International League....
.
On December 2, 2009, McLouth gave his usual jersey number, #13, to new teammate Billy Wagner
Billy Wagner
William Edward Wagner , nicknamed "Billy the Kid", is a retired Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He pitched for the Houston Astros , the Philadelphia Phillies , the New York Mets , the Boston Red Sox , and the Atlanta Braves...
. He switched his number to 24, previously worn by Jordan Schafer
Jordan Schafer
Jordan James Schafer is a Major League Baseball center fielder for the Houston Astros.-Baseball career:...
. He returned to wearing #13 for the 2011 season after Wagner retired following the 2010 season.
On June 5, 2010, McLouth had his 500th hit in the Major League.
On September 6, 2010, McLouth hit a fly ball that would have been a grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
but instead got robbed by Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
outfielder Cameron Maybin
Cameron Maybin
Cameron Keith Maybin is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the San Diego Padres. He was the tenth pick in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft by The Detroit Tigers. He was consistently ranked as the Tigers top minor league prospect while in the organization.-High school:Maybin played high school...
, with the play resulting in a two-run sacrifice fly
Sacrifice fly
In baseball, a sacrifice fly is a batted ball that satisfies four criteria:* There are fewer than two outs when the ball is hit.* The ball is hit to the outfield....
.
On July 17, 2011, McLouth hit a solo home run in the bottom of the 8th inning against the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
to tie the game 8-8. It was his 4th home run of the season, and the 1st home run he's hit since May 4th, 2011.