McCutchen named Indians' Player of the Month

INDIANAPOLIS -- Outfielder Andrew McCutchen has been named Indianapolis Indians Player of the Month for May. He will receive a custom-made watch -- courtesy of Windsor Jewelers -- before Friday night's game against Lehigh Valley.

McCutchen hit .304 with two home runs and 10 RBIs during the season's second month. The 21-year-old recorded eight multi-hit performances and three multi-run efforts.

McCutchen ranked second in all of Triple-A with 12 stolen bases in May. He also tallied a .411 slugging percentage and .391 on-base percentage during the stretch.

"Andrew's energy and versatility has been a key component for our ball club," Indians manager Trent Jewett said. "He has hit first, second, and third in the lineup and fit well in all three places.

McCutchen owns a .282 BA with seven homers and 24 RBI through 58 games this season.

"Andrew's teammates appreciate the way he plays the game," said Jewett. "He has shown the ability to drive in and score runs. Plus, he's been able to grow in the outfield and improve his baserunning."

McCutchen is batting .279 with two home runs and three RBIs against left-handed pitchers, and .283 with five long balls and 21 RBIs vs. right-handed hurlers.

"Andrew is a very patient hitter," Jewett said. "His pitch recognition has become excellent, and he has begun to see the ball very early out of the pitcher's hand. For a player with his amount of power, Andrew's strikeout-to-walk ratio is impressive."

Heading into 2008, McCutchen by MiLB.com as the eighth-best prospect in all of Minor League Baseball and the Pirates' No. 1 prospect by Baseball America. McCutchen has been ranked as the No. 1 or No. 2 prospect in the Pittsburgh organization every year since he was taken in first round of the 2005 draft.

The 2006 Pirates Minor League Player of the Year hit .709 with eight doubles, three triples, 16 homers and 42 RBIs in 2005 as senior at Fort Meade (Fla.) High School.