Local Sports Journal

Whitehall’s Nate McLouth is back in the big leagues after his callup to the American League’s Baltimore Orioles on Friday.

And in his debut with the Orioles on Saturday, McLouth went 2-for-4, including a double, in a 4-0 victory over Tampa Bay. He was not in the starting lineup for Sunday afternoon’s game against the Rays.

For McLouth, 30, it’s been a tough season. He began the year with the Pittsburgh Pirates. After hitting .140 with the Pirates he was released. Five days later, the Orioles signed him and assigned him to the Norfolk Tides, their AAA affiliate.

In Norfolk, McLouth had a .244 batting average with 10 home runs in 47 games.

McLouth was a 25th round draft pick of the Pirates in 2000. He made the NL All-Star team in 2008, but could never hit his stride after that season in which he hit 26 home runs and drove in 94 runs. He also batted .276 and earned a Gold Glove.