Nate McLouth

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**Nate McLouth**
Major League Baseball debut
Pittsburgh Pirates — No. 49
Center Fielder
Bats: Left	Throws: Right
June 29, 2005 for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Selected MLB statistics (through August 11,2006)
Avg	.237
RBI	25
HR	11

Nathan Richard McLouth (Born October 28, 1981 in Muskegon, MI) is a Major League Baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Primarily a center fielder, McLouth bats from the left side and throws from the right. He is 5' 11" tall and weighs 185 pounds. His last name is commonly mispronounced; the correct pronunciation rhymes with the word "mouth", rather than the word "couth".

After graduating from Whitehall Sr. High School, McLouth was selected by the Pirates in the 25th round of the 2000 June draft. McLouth would have been chosen much sooner, but many scouts believed that he had a firm commitment to the University of Michigan. After an encouraging debut in full-season ball with Hickory, he struggled at high-A Lynchburg in 2002. McLouth rebounded with a strong season at that same level in 2003, however, earning a spot on the league's All-Star team.

McLouth continued to steadily advance through the minors, and on June 29, 2005, he made his major league debut. As a result of an injury to starting center fielder Chris Duffy, McLouth received a substantial amount of playing time through the end of the season. In 109 at bats, he compiled a .257 batting average, a .305 on base percentage, and a .450 slugging percentage.

McLouth made the Pittsburgh Pirates 2006 opening day lineup as a backup outfielder, sending OF Jody Gerut to start the year in Triple-A.