WATCH: Yankees’ Andrew McCutchen shows enthusiasm, discusses trade, role before debut

Andrew McCutchen joined the Yankees on Saturday and was in their lineup as the leadoff hitter and right fielder for a 4:05 p.m. game against the Detroit Tigers.

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NEW YORK — In addition to being a great player for most of his career, new Yankees outfielder Andrew McCutchen is known for being one of good guys in the game.

He’s won a Roberto Clemente Award for his charity work and giving back to baseball.

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The five-time All-Star and former MVP also brings a lot of enthusiasm, and it was apparent during his first interview since he was traded from the San Francisco Giants to the Yankees late Thursday evening.

Before playing his first game as a Yankee on Saturday against the Detroit Tigers, McCutchen was a ball of energy answering questions for 12 minutes in a Yankee Stadium conference room.

We shot video of the first two-thirds of the interview, which appears above and includes McCutchen sprinkling some comedy into sharing a story from when he first learned being traded to the Yankees was a possibility.

He also talked about how excited he is to be wearing Yankees pinstripes, being in a pennant race and how he’ll handle becoming a part-time player if and when Aaron Judge returns from his broken wrist in September.

McCutchen says he’s nervous about joining the Yankees … but nervous in a good way.

“I’m on a new team and we have an opportunity to do big things here, so in a sense, yes, I am nervous,” said McCutchen, who played right field and hit leadoff in his Yankees debut. “But at the same time I look at it as it’s a good thing because that means I care about it.

“A lot of good things happen when you’re nervous and your blood gets flowing. Not to get too scientific, but I guess that’s the way that I look at it.”

Randy Miller may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.