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Andrew McCutchen Putting Up MVP Numbers

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PITTSBURGH, Pa. — In front of our very own eyes, Pittsburgh fans are seeing an All-Star develop into a superstar. Andrew McCutchen can do it all. He showcased his unbelievable talent against the San Francisco Giants on Friday picking up three hits and driving in a pair of runs.

“He very well could be,” Manager Clint Hurdle said on whether McCutchen is becoming a superstar. “I think we just need to give him time and let him play and he’ll show us what he’s going to become. You’re getting to see a young man grow up right in front of your eyes in a city that’s very deserving of having that kind of player. The commitment that he’s made to our organization is significant. The commitment that we’ve made to him is significant. The passion that he goes out and plays with. You’re talking about a win-win opportunity to watch a young man grow up and take this game where he’s going to take it. We’re all fortunate to be along for the ride.”

McCutchen’s second hit of the game drove in his second RBI. He ripped a triple into the left field notch with one out in the third frame. It marked his fifth triple of the season. The center fielder showed off his wheels as the crowd at PNC Park chanted ‘MVP.’

And he’s putting up numbers worthy of it, too.

Over his last six games, McCutchen has gone 17-for-28 (.607 avg) with two doubles, a triple, two home runs and eight RBI. His 49 RBI since the beginning of May ranks second among National League players. McCutchen ranks second in the National League with 108 hits, and since June 1, the outfielder leads the NL with 51. The 25-year-old is tied on the team with 16 long balls (also Pedro Alvarez) and has 14 stolen bases.

“This whole season, to be quite honest, the last few years he’s progressed every year,” Alvarez said. “To see him since 2005, has been pretty cool.  Just this season has been pretty outstanding.”

“I’ve been fortunate. I’ve seen a few of those guys,” Hurdle said. “This has been fun to watch because it’s our guy. It’s a young man that loves the game. He’s got a great passion for the game. He’s got a great respect for the game. And he’s playing the game the best he’s ever played it. And that’s never not fun to watch it. The guys are feeding off him.”

“It’s ridiculous,” Garrett Jones said of his teammate. “He’s hitting home runs. Then he’ll roll a ball and beat it out with his speed, hit line drives. It’s just unbelievable what a five tool player he is, how he’s just maturing as a player. He’s a superstar. That’s one word to describe him.”

McCutchen entered game action leading the Majors Leagues with a .35593 batting average. The outfielder has a slight lead over San Francisco’s Melky Cabrera, who will be roaming left field at PNC Park this weekend series.

“It’s kind of like, you want to watch [him], you just don’t want him to do well,” Hurdle said of Cabrera. “We caught him early in the season before really he had putting up the numbers that this young man has put up. I’ve talked to a number of people that have scouted this team. They go, ‘No, he’s hitting what he’s hitting.’ Sometimes they’ll say it’s a soft .320. No, this guy is hitting what he’s hitting. He has probably meant as much to them, from an offensive standpoint, as Andrew has meant to us.”

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