By John Perrotto
Andrew McCutchen said he wasn’t nervous about making his major-league debut and he certainly didn’t seem that way.
The 22-year-old walked into the Pirates’ clubhouse two hours before game time Thursday morning wearing a knit cap like looked like the one Tito Jackson used to sport during the Jackson 5’s heyday.
McCutchen accepted congratulatory handshakes and hugs after being called up from Class AAA Indianapolis, took batting practice then looked like he had been in the major leagues for 10 years in an 11-6 win over the New York Mets at PNC Park.
Batting leadoff and playing center field less than 24 hours after All-Star and Gold Glove winner Nate McLouth had been traded to Atlanta for three minor-leaguers, McCutchen went 2-for-4 with three runs scored, an RBI, a stolen base and a walk.
“I was excited about getting the call but kind of surprised that they traded McLouth to open a spot for me,” McCutchen said. “I thought they considered him ‘the guy,’ so it says to me the Pirates must think a lot of me to want me to replace him. I don’t look at it as pressure at all but a compliment. I’m not a guy who puts a lot of pressure on himself. I don’t look it like I’m replacing anybody but that I’m here because I deserve to be here.”
McCutchen hit .303 with 10 doubles, eight triples, four home runs, 20 RBIs, 10 stolen bases, 41 runs scored, a .361 on base percentage and a .493 slugging percentage in 49 games at Indianapolis.
He picked up where he left off in his first big-league game.
McCutchen made an impact right away as he took
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