Andrew McCutchen’s time is now.

With the trade of all-star Nate McLouth to the Atlanta Braves, center field for the the Pittsburgh Pirates is an open for position.  Who will fill the spot is undecided.  

But what has been decided is that McCutchen’s progress made the McLouth trade possible and that the rookie will fill one of the Pirates three outfield positions moving forward.  

In two days, McCutchen has gone from Triple-A star to an everyday player in Major League Baseball.

McCutchen will don his first Authentic On-field cap as a member of the Pirates today in a matinee game against the New York Mets.

“I’m really excited,” McCutchen told MLB.com. “I really haven’t been able to kind of sit back and think about it.”

What are the Pirates expectations of McCutchen?  

“He’ll stay within his abilities and drive balls gap-to-gap and collect doubles and triples and draw walks and be an impact base runner or play impact defense,” Huntington said. “If he just plays within himself, he has a chance to do some exiting things.”

VIDEO: HUNTINGTON TALKS ABOUT THE McLOUTH TRADE AND McCUTCHEN