Pirates/MLB
Pittsburgh Pirates
Andrew McCutchen is the NL MVP Winner by a landslide. McCutchen received 28 of 30 first place votes becoming the seventh Pirate in franchise history to win the NL MVP. Among the Pirates to win the award since it was created in 1931, McCutchen has joined Dick Groat (1960), Roberto Clemente (1966), Dave Parker (1978), Willie Stargell (1979 – tied with Keith Hernandez) and Barry Bonds (1990 and 1992). Hall-of-Famer Paul Waner also received the National League Most Valuable Player Citation in 1927.
The 27-year-old McCutchen hit .317 with 38 doubles, five triples, 21 home runs, 84 RBI, 97 runs scored and 27 stolen bases in 157 games in 2013 while leading the Pirates to the postseason for the first time since 1992. McCutchen ended the season ranked seventh in the league in batting, third in hits (185) and on-base percentage (.404), second in multi-hit games (59), sixth in runs scored and slugging percentage (.508) and fifth in total bases (296).
“This is a tremendous honor, not only for Andrew and his family, but for the Pittsburgh Pirates,” said Pirates Senior Vice President, General Manager Neal Huntington. “Since making his major league debut in 2009, he has been a great ambassador for the game of baseball. The Pirates organization is extremely proud of his focus and commitment, not just to the team, but to the entire Pittsburgh community.”
During the 2013 campaign, McCutchen became the sixth player in the 127-year history of the team to hit at least 100 home runs and steal at least 100 bases in his career, joining Barry Bonds, Al Martin, Andy Van Slyke, Dave Parker and Hall-of-Famer Paul Waner. He also became the first Pirates player since Barry Bonds (1990-92) to hit at least 20 home runs and steal at least 20 bases in three consecutive seasons.
“I’m proud of, and happy for, Andrew and the entire Pirates organization,” said Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle, who was tabbed the National League Manager-of-the-Year Tuesday. “I’ve said all along that he was my vote for MVP and I’m thrilled to see that all his hard work and dedication to the game, and to the Pirates, has resulted in this award.”
In addition to his statistics during the regular season, McCutchen hit .333 (7-for-21) in six postseason games between the Wild Card Game and National League Division Series. The three-time All-Star has also been named the Most Outstanding Player in the National League by his peers the last two seasons as well as a Silver Slugger Award winner in 2012 and 2013.
