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Almost everyone pegged Nate McLouth as a fourth outfielder in the major leagues, but he showed them all last year what kind of damage he can do as an everyday player.

''He emerged last year and just proved himself to be legit,'' Pittsburgh third base coach and former Curve manager Tony Beasley said during the Pirates Winter Caravan stop Monday in Altoona.

McLouth was arguably the biggest surprise in baseball in 2008, belting 26 homers with 94 RBIs while hitting .276 for the Bucs. He also won the National League Gold Glove for center fielders, committing just one error in 150 starts.

''It was something that people said I wasn't able to do - play center field every day in the big leagues,'' McLouth said. ''And I've got a Gold Glove sitting in my house now.''

McLouth enjoyed the huge season but had the luxury of being somewhat of an unknown. He will have no such luxury anymore.

The 27-year-old outfielder is now saddled with a burden that can be described simply with one word but is far from simple to overcome. That word? Expectations.

Whether McLouth will be a one-year wonder or a legitimate, consistent major league standout will become more clear with how he performs this season.

''Nobody expects more out of me than me,'' McLouth said. ''Having the success I did last year just makes me want to have more success.''

McLouth surprised even himself with his power production a year ago. His career high in homers was just 13 entering the season, and he nearly doubled that total.

''In the minor leagues, that type of power was never really there,'' McLouth said. ''I'd always hit a lot of doubles. I don't know if it's a matter of getting a little older and stronger and those doubles kind of starting to turn into home runs.''

McLouth didn't show much power with the Curve in 2004, hitting only eight homers, but he did drive the ball with 40 doubles.

Beasley managed McLouth in Altoona and said he's the same type of player he was five years ago.

''What I saw is a guy that knew how to play and had the ability to be a good player,'' Beasley said.

Still, count Beasley among those surprised about McLouth's monster 2008.

''I don't know that he even saw that or knew that within himself,'' Beasley said.

The biggest key for McLouth was just knowing he would be in the lineup every day. He never had that luxury his first three seasons with the Bucs.

''For some reason he got tabbed as a fourth outfielder and didn't get the opportunity,'' Pirates pitcher Paul Maholm said.

Until last year. That's when McLouth found himself in a position where he didn't even have to check manager John Russell's lineup card when he went to the ballpark because he knew he would be playing.

How much difference did that make?

''Tons,'' McLouth said.

''John Russell just let me go,'' he added. ''He hardly said a word to me all year, just kind of let me do my thing, and obviously it turned out pretty well.''

McLouth went to spring training last year and had to battle Nyjer Morgan for the starting center field job. McLouth played well in Florida, won the job and got off to sizzling start.

''I was in full competition from day one in spring training, and I think that really helped me come out of the gates strong last year,'' he said.

McLouth now faces pressure to come out strong again this season. If he does, he will prove he can handle the expectations. But if he struggles early, the one-year wonder questions will dog him.

''It will be mentioned a lot,'' McLouth said of the expectations. ''It's not something that I anticipate being a problem, but it certainly already has been mentioned and will be mentioned.''

Beasley doesn't believe that will affect McLouth's performance.

''I don't think he'll try to do more to appease expectations,'' Beasley said. ''I think he'll just do what he does. He'll show up every day, give you a solid at-bat and good things are going to happen.''

Cory Giger is at 949-7031 and cgsports12@aol.com.