McCutchen going to Cooperstown

PITTSBURGH -- Andrew McCutchen will headline a class of 12 Minor Leaguers the Pittsburgh Pirates will bring along to Cooperstown, N.Y., for Monday's Hall of Fame Game.

Pirates manager Jim Tracy said the Major Leaguers making the trip will be announced on Friday and added, "There will be some guys that won't be going."

Those going from the big club will leave immediately following Sunday afternoon's game to fly into Albany, N.Y.

The Minor Leaguers will see most of the action in the ceremonial game, however. The most tantalizing draw will be McCutchen, the club's first pick in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft and arguably its top prospect.

The wiry 19-year-old center fielder has done nothing but impress since making the transition from high school to professional baseball. In 30 games at Class A Hickory this season, he is hitting a team-high .328 with four homers.

Other farmhands on the roster include outfielder Rajai Davis and pitchers Scott Strickland and C.J. Nitkowski from Triple-A Indianapolis; infielder Craig Stansberry, outfielder Adam Boeve and pitchers Josh Sharpless and Josh Shortslef from Double-A Altoona. From the Class A ranks, the Bucs will bring along shortstop Brian Bixler and pitchers Wardell Starling and Todd Redmond.

They will be facing a tall order, with the Reds likely starting veteran Eric Milton, who will use the game in place of a rehab assignment.