A year ago, the Pirates considered Nate McLouth and Nyjer Morgan the competition for their regular center-field job.

At the same time, the Pirates weren't sure McLouth would hit enough to be their regular left or right fielder if Morgan won the center-field spot in spring training.

And, truth be told, all along the Pirates considered McLouth a fourth outfielder at best.

A year later?

Nate McLouth is a Gold Glove center fielder.

"This kind of came out of nowhere," McLouth said.

As did McLouth.

Recently turned 27 years old, McLouth was the Pirates' 25th-round draft pick in 2000. Perhaps undersized at 5 feet 11, 180 pounds, he nevertheless worked his way steadily through the minor league system but always seemed in the shadow of Chris Duffy.

And now, McLouth is the first Pirates center fielder to win a Gold Glove since Andy Van Slyke in 1992.

"I didn't really see him play a whole lot, but to hear people talk about him, he was certainly a fan favorite and he may be one of the best defensive center fielders in the history of the Pirates," McLouth said about Van Slyke. "To be next in line to him is an honor."

McLouth is also the first Pirates player to win a Gold Glove -- an award ostensibly given for defensive excellence -- since shortstop Jay Bell in 1993. Bell hit .310 that year, his only season as a .300 hitter. That is something not lost on McLouth.

"Your offensive numbers help get you noticed," McLouth said.

Helped by a great start, McLouth batted .276 with 46 doubles and 26 home runs. Batting much of the season in the leadoff spot, he also had 94 RBIs to go with 113 runs scored and 23 stolen bases. Those numbers helped him get picked for the National League All-Star team in July.

These numbers helped get him a Gold Glove in November: one error (on a throw Sept. 23 in Milwaukee) in 155 games.

He led National League center fielders with a .997 fielding percentage and ranked second behind Milwaukee's Ryan Braun among all National League outfielders in fielding percentage. (Braun, a left fielder, had no errors in 149 games.)

McLouth is joined in the National League Gold Glove outfield by New York Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran (.284, 27 home runs, 112 RBIs, 116 runs scored) and Philadelphia center fielder Shane Victorino (.293, 14, 58, 102).

"A lot of times, the offensive numbers are what people judge a season by," McLouth said.

The Gold Glove voting is done by major league managers and coaches.

"That means a lot because they're the ones who see you play every day," McLouth said.

And they're the ones who see the offensive numbers.

"But defensively?" McLouth said. "This caps off the season."

McLouth's first reaction upon learning he'd won a Gold Glove?

"Definitely surprised," he said. "Obviously thrilled, but definitely surprised. There are only three selected out of the entire National League and there are a lot of great outfielders in the National League."

A few years ago, nobody would have put McLouth in that mix.

"In the minor leagues, I was decent," he said. "But everybody said back then that I wouldn't be able to play center field in the big leagues."

So what will McLouth do with his Gold Glove trophy? Where will he put it?

"It depends on how big it is," he said.

Told the trophy is about as big as a regular glove, McLouth pondered that.

"Well, I'll have to walk around my house and see where it might fit."