March 8
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Nate McLouth doesn't want to use any excuses for his inconsistent season with the Braves last year. But he has plenty of them. First, there was the jolt of his career when he was traded from the only organization he's ever played for - the Pirates - just four months after signing a long-term extension with them. Then there was the hamstring injury which sent him to the disabled list for two weeks in August and hampered him much longer than that. And finally, after the season was over, driving home to Michigan, McLouth realized he was having problems with his vision, something he confirmed with a visit to the eye doctor shortly thereafter. "That's the last thing I wanted to be on a new team ..."
August 17
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Deciding they couldn't wait any longer on Nate McLouth's sore left hamstring, the Braves decided to place McLouth on the disabled list Monday and they purchased the contract of center fielder Reid Gorecki from Class AAA Gwinnett. Gorecki was expected to arrive in time for Monday's game against Arizona and will wear No. 30. McLouth was removed from Saturday's game as he continued to favor a hamstring injury that he aggravated a week ago in Los Angeles and forced him to miss the next three games. McLouth also missed five games in late June with problems to that same hamstring. McLouth returned to the Braves' lineup Friday against the Phillies but was hampered on the basepaths. With Martin ..."
June 5
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Chipper Jones has always said he prefers his third spot in the batting order, so reporters went straight to his locker Thursday for reaction after seeing the lineup with new center fielder Nate McLouth hitting third and Jones fourth. "I told [manager Bobby Cox] I was open to whatever he thought was best for the club," said Jones, who spoke with Cox after the Braves finalized their trade Wednesday for the All-Star center fielder from the Pittsburgh Pirates. "I don't know if this is permanent, but we'll see." The Braves' scheduled game against the Cubs was rained out Thursday, but Cox's batting order had second baseman Kelly Johnson in the leadoff role, followed by shortstop Yunel Escobar, ..."
June 5
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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As shocked as fans were by Wednesday's news the Braves had traded for a center fielder, and Braves players who learned of it on the Jumbotron during the game, imagine the jolt for Nate McLouth. McLouth, 27, signed a three-year contract with the Pirates in February. He was leading the Pirates in homers and RBIs. He's an All-Star, a Gold Glover, a gregarious clubhouse guy, and poised to become the face of that franchise. "It was shocking," McLouth said before, barring a rainout, he made his debut with the Braves on Thursday night. "It was the last thing on my mind, to be honest with you." Not that trading outfielders is anything new for the Pirates. McLouth watched the other two members of ..."
June 5
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The stall next to Freddy Sanchez's locker stood vacant prior to Thursday's game with the Mets. Nate was gone. Nate the Great was officially gone. Despite the stunning news, the Pirates outslugged the Mets, 11-6, at PNC Park in their first game since trading All-Star center fielder Nate McLouth. Pirates manager John Russell said he was proud of the way his players responded to a difficult time. "They lost a friend," Russell said. "But they went out and played very good baseball." Some of that came from new center fielder Andrew McCutchen, who went 2-for-4 with three runs scored in his big-league debut. The Pirates led 4-0 after one inning and never trailed. Jason Jaramillo went 2-for-4 with ..."
June 5
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Thursday morning, outfielder Nate McLouth bid an emotional farewell to the Pirates. McLouth stopped by the home team's clubhouse at PNC Park about 16 hours after he was traded to the Atlanta Braves for three minor-leaguers. He spoke with reporters for about five minutes, pausing several times to wipe tears from his eyes. After signing a three-year, $15.75 million contract in February, McLouth figured he was safe from the trade market. "It was the last thought on my mind," McLouth said. "In this business, you know it's always a possibility. You see it happen, but it's different when it happens to you. This is my 10th year in the Pirates' organization, and ... there's a lot of good people ..."
June 4
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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One day after sending Jordan Schafer to the minors, the Braves made a bold move to improve their outfield by trading three prospects to Pittsburgh for All-Star center fielder Nate McLouth. They shipped right-handed starter Charlie Morton, center-field prospect Gorkys Hernandez and minor league lefty Jeff Locke to the Pirates for McLouth, an All-Star and Gold Glove winner last season when he hit 26 homers with 94 RBIs and led the National League with 46 doubles. "He's a great pickup for us," third baseman Chipper Jones said of McLouth, 27, whose nine homers, 34 RBIs and seven stolen bases this season easily surpass the Braves' current team leaders in each of those categories. "A week ago I ..."
June 4
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Four months ago, the Pirates considered center fielder Nate McLouth one of their cornerstones for the future. McLouth still is 'A" except his future now is with the Atlanta Braves. Wednesday, the Pirates traded McLouth, their All-Star center fielder, for three minor leaguers. The Pirates acquired center fielder Gorkys Hernandez and a pair of starting pitchers, right-hander Charlie Morton and lefty Jeff Locke. "This absolutely was a tough decision," general manager Neal Huntington said. "We've traded a talented player and a quality person, and in return we feel we've gotten a package of prospects, all with the ceiling to be above-average major league players." To replace McLouth, outfielder ..."
May 18
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Nate McLouth did it all against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday. The Pirates center fielder had two hits in one inning and smashed his team-leading seventh home run. But his finest moment came in the first inning, when he made a remarkable diving catch in right-center to rob Clint Barmes and join teammates Freddy Sanchez and Jack Wilson with spectacular defensive plays during the homestand. McLouth, the National League's reigning Gold Glove center fielder, tracked down Barmes' tailing line drive with a full extension grab, and it came with tricky outfield conditions. "The wind was switching directions," McLouth said. "Luckily, I caught up to it.""
May 3
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Call him Mr. Saturday Night. Nate McLouth went 3-for-5, scoring three runs and driving in another, as the Pirates snapped a four-game losing skid with an 8-6 victory over the Cincinnati Reds Saturday night before 22,891 at PNC Park. McLouth, in his second game back after missing six with a strained right oblique, is 6-for-10 with a homer, five RBI and five runs in three Saturday games this season. The Pirates are 4-0 on Saturdays this season, including 2-0 against the Reds, and are averaging 9.5 runs in those games. The Pirates also ended a 22{1/3}-inning scoreless streak, dating to Wednesday's 1-0 loss at Milwaukee, with a four-run first inning. They duplicated Friday's first inning by ..."
May 2
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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One of the Pirates' injured starters is back in the lineup - and another one isn't far away. Nate McLouth, who missed the past six games with a strained right oblique, started in center field and batted third on Friday. Shortstop Jack Wilson (left middle finger), on the 15-day disabled list, saw some light activity Friday and "by all indications, he should be ready to go" next weekend, according to manager John Russell. McLouth took about 20 swings during an informal batting practice yesterday afternoon. The club took a cautious approach with its Gold Glove center fielder. "They wanted it to be totally 100 percent pain free," McLouth said. "They were worried about it not getting completely ..."
March 18
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Pirates center fielder Nate McLouth isn't striving for an encore following his breakout season. He has a different mindset heading into his second year as a starting outfielder for the Pirates. "(I'm) not thinking about last season and not worrying about last season and not trying to top it," McLouth said. "I'll just go out and do the things I did last year and let the numbers worry about themselves." McLouth set career highs in every offensive category, including a .276 batting average, 94 RBI, 165 hits and 26 home runs. He was named to the National League All-Star team and won a Gold Glove. His career year led to the three-year, $15.75 million contract - with an option for 2012 - he ..."
March 2
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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On a chilly, breezy afternoon, the Pirates scored five runs in the fifth inning Sunday to beat the Detroit Tigers, 6-4. Nate McLouth capped the rally with a three-run homer. McLouth went hitless in his first two games this spring, striking out twice in four at-bats. Yesterday, he went 2 for 3. "The first couple games, I was a little jumpy, and I still am," McLouth said. "It takes awhile every year, 15-20 (at-bats) or so, but I'm getting there.""
February 17
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Outfielder Nate McLouth's new contract is a three-year deal worth a guaranteed $15.75 million. There also is a club option for 2012, which would boost the total value to at least $26.4 million. This year, McLouth will make $3.5 million, which includes a $1.5 million signing bonus. He'll get $4.5 million in 2010 and $6.5 million in 2011. The club option for 2012 is worth $10.65 million or a $1.25 million buyout. The deal also includes performance bonuses for All-Star Game appearances and for winning the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove awwards. Those bonues increase to $500,000 in 2010 and 2011. If the option is exercised in 2012, those bonuses can be up to $750,000. As has become standard in ..."
July 7
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Nate McLouth's breakout season will include a trip to the All-Star Game. Sunday, the Pirates center fielder was selected among the 23 reserves for the National League squad. McLouth was chosen by the players ballot, the same way Jack Wilson made the team in 2004. This year's game will be played July 15 at Yankee Stadium. "It's kind of humbling to be mentioned among some of the names that will be there," McLouth said. "Anytime your peers feel that way about you, when they vote you to an All-Star Game, it's extremely special.""