ProCamp Presents All-Star Andrew McCutchen

A month from now, we'll see if Andrew McCutchen still is in the discussion for National League Most Valuable Player.

The center fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates is at the top of many lists as the team resumes play following the All-Star break. McCutchen, who played in his second consecutive All-Star game Tuesday, leads the majors with a .362 batting average.

If he keeps up at anything resembling that pace, he should be all smiles when he visits Upper St. Clair in four weeks.

Friday, Aug. 10, is the date for the Andrew McCutchen Baseball ProCamp, presented by Heinz. For boys and girls ages 6 to 14, the event is from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Community and Recreation Center at Boyce Mayview Park.

Among the activities, according to the camp's website:

• Stations and fundamentals. The campers will experience various stations, specializing in fundamental skills of baseball. Individual groups will be small to assure that each camper gets maximum instruction from some of the top baseball coaches in the region.
• Games and competition. Campers will participate in games and skill contests, with each camper placed on a team according to his or her skill level and age.
• Instructional lectures. McCutchen will present a lecture highlighting the finer points of the game of baseball and beyond. Parents and guests will be able to listen to camp guests in designated areas at each location.

Since 1998, ProCamps has developed, managed and operated sports camps and related events for professional athletes in Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association National Football League and Women's Professional Soccer.

For more information about McCutchen's camp, click here.

For more information about Andrew McCutchen, the baseball player:

A native of Fort Meade, FL, the Pirates selected him as the team's first pick (11th overall) in the 2005 amateur draft. He made his major-league debut four years later, at age 22, quickly establishing himself with 10 hits in his first five games, including two triples in one game against Detroit.

He finished his first season with a .286 average, 12 home runs, 54 runs batted in and 22 stolen bases. The Baseball Writers Association of America voted him fourth place in National League Rookie of the Year balloting.

McCutchen posted the same batting average in 2010, with 16 home runs, 56 RBI and 33 stolen bases, while playing for a team that lost 105 games.

The following season, McCutchen was selected for the All-Star team. His batting average dipped to .259 for the season, but he hit 23 home runs and drove in 89 runs.

So far in 2012, along with leading the National League in batting average, he also ranks first in total bases and slugging percentage; second in hits; third in runs scored and on-base percentage; and fourth in home runs.