Nate McLouth

Atlanta Braves centerfielder Nate McLouth played the first few years of his career in a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform. When McLouth came out of high school, he was already a star. McLouth was named Michigan's Co-Mr. Baseball, Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year, and USA Today Honorable Mention All-American in 2000. http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=434661

As a player, McLouth batted .523 for his career (an amazing stat on any level) and he had stolen 180 out of 181 bases in his career another increible stat. He was offered a baseball scholorship to the University of Michigan but turned it down to play for the Pirates.

Pittsburgh drafted McLouth in the 25th round of the MLB draft. Some suggested he would have been drafted earlier but some thought was going to committ to playing ball at Michigan therefore hurting his draft status. McLouth made his debut as a Pirate on June 25, 2005 because of an injury to starter Chris Duffy.

McLouth got his first major league hit on August 12, 2005, against Roy Oswalt of the Houston Astros and made his first start two days later. On May 20, 2006, McLouth hit his first career lead-off home run against Jason Johnson of the Cleveland Indians. From 2005-2009, McLouth would be the starting centerfielder for the Pirates. Mclouth would have his best season with the Pirates in 2008 when he would become an Gold-Glove winner and be the first Pirate centerfielder to be name to the All-Star game since Andy Van Slyke in 1993 http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=434661

Back in June 2009, McLouth was traded to the Altanta Braves for Charlie Morton, Jeff Locke, and Gorkys Hernandez. Although McLouth hasn't proven to be a power hitter thus far, he has been a great outfielder. McLouth only had one error in 2009 and ironically got his first home run as an Atlanta Brave versus the Pirates a few days later after joining the Braves.

To say Nate McLouth was a high school sensation would be in understatement. Any player who hits nearly .600 for his career and was almost perfect in the stolen base department, is nothing to sneeze at. As a major leaguer however, success at the plate hasn't been as easy, but in2008, everything seem to come together for McLouth.

He batted .276 with 26 homeruns and 94 RBI's with a fielding percentage of .997 which earned him not only earn him a spot on the All-Star roster, but he also won him a Golden Glove that season as well.

McLouth was award the 2008 Roberto Clemente Award winner by the Pittsburgh chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America; an award presented annually since 1973 to the team MVP. The award of course is named after the late great Roberto Clemente who died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve 1972. The award should not be confused with the annual award given to the National League's MVP given annually.http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=434661