The Resurgence of Nate McLouth – Berkon’s Beanballs

It wasn't too long ago that Nate McLouth was one of the more exciting, young outfielders in baseball. In 2008, McLouth--in his fourth major league season--posted a 125 OPS+, 26 HR, and 23 SB campaign for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The then 26 year-old also led the league with 46 doubles.

Perhaps channeling incredible foresight, the Pirates dealt the recently-extended McLouth mid-2009 to the Atlanta Braves for a package of prospects. At the time, it seemed as though the Braves had acquired a franchise cornerstone--but unfortunately, it couldn't have been further from the case.

Despite swatting a respectable 104 OPS+ in the second half of 2009 for the Braves, McLouth combined for a putrid 79 OPS+ over the next two seasons. After a forgettable second, short stint with the Pirates in 2010 (10 OPS+ in 62 PAs), the Baltimore Orioles threw the hitter a lifeline. In 236 PAs, mostly against right-handed pitching, McLouth  swatted a respectable 111 OPS+--his highest rate since the first half of 2009.

The Orioles re-signed the 31 year-old this past off-season to a one-year, $2 million, but pegged him merely as a left-handed platoon option--not the lead-off hitter he has now emerged as. Due to the predictable injury of Brian Roberts, McLouth was thrust into duties he hasn't preformed since 2010. Yet, the results have been extraordinary.

In 125 PAs to-date, McLouth has posted a 131 OPS+ with 3 HR and 11 SB. But the hitter is also out-performing most of his career averages:

Career: 9.9% BB%
Career: 17.3% K%
Career: 101 OPS+
Career: 86% SB%

2013: 13.6% BB%
2013: 8.8% K%
2013: 131 OPS+
2013: 91.6% SB%

In the peripheral world, McLouth is excelling too. His O-Swing% (pitches outside the zone) is down from a career 21.6% to 16.6% this season, and he's also making more contact, in general (from career 85.7% to 92.2%). Perhaps the most telling peripheral is McLouth's SwStr%; the hitter has wiffed at 5.6% of pitches over the course of his career, but has halved that in 2013 (to 2.9%). Essentially, Nate McLouth has become a much better, more patient hitter in 2013.

However, like the past couple of years, McLouth is still doing the majority of his damage versus right-handed pitching (.319/.418/.468 line in 2013). In fact, the left-handed hitter only has 14 PAs against left-handed pitching (.154/.214/.385 line in 2013) this season. If the Orioles begin to expose McLouth to more southpaws, it's likely his overall line deteriorate quickly. But given that, in 2008, McLouth posted a solid .261/.322/.388 line against lefties, it might be a worthy endeavor to see if Nate McLouth is truly enjoying a renaissance season--or if he's just a valuable platoon option.