"The runner goes!" "the pitch is taken for a called strike, and McCutchen slides into second base safely without a throw!" Andrew McCutchen made his debut June 4, 2009 and he came into the big leagues swinging the bat. He did not stop swinging that bat either as he finished his four month long 2009 campaign by batting .286 with 12 homeruns and 54 RBIs. During his four months with the pirates, he led the team in RBIs as well as leading them in stolen bases. He stole a base on June 4, his debut, and he proceeded to steal 21 more bases on just 26 attempts. The reason for this success? his outstanding speed. In high school, Andrew McCutchen ran a 6.2 second 60 yard dash and he is faster than that now. How much faster? nobody really knows but everyone who watched him make the turn around first and turn on the jets as he headed toward third in one of his 9 triples, marvelled at his speed. At the time of his debut, McCutchen was only 22 years old. He did have a couple slumps as pitchers adjusted to him as the year went on, but as the good batters do, he adjusted and had his average back to where he would finish at .286. Throughout the year McCutchen showed amazing range in centerfield and with experience became better defensively . As a leadoff man in the Pirates lineup, some wondered why he did not attempt to bunt for more basehits. The answer to this question is that McCutchen is the most dangerous when he is swinging the bat. His ability to bat for a high average and his extra base hit power will benefit the Pirates in many ways as they seek to compete in the NL Central division in 2010.