PITTSBURGH — They're here under different circumstances and are playing different roles.

But Andrew McCutchen, Jeff Clement and John Raynor have a common denominator They were on a major league Opening Day roster for the first time as they try to help the Pirates reverse 17 years of losing.

McCutchen, 23, already is considered the face of the franchise after hitting .286 in 108 games last year, slamming 12 homers and stealing 22 bases.

The Pirates' first-round draft selection in 2005, McCutchen started all but one game in center field after being called up June 4.

"My experiences last year taught me how to handle a lot of things," McCutchen said. "Face of the franchise? If that's what people consider me to be, I'm fine with it. But I don't look at it that way.

"Every player in this clubhouse has his name on the back. We all wear the same name on the front. That's the name that counts."

McCutchen was named Rookie of the Year by Baseball America for his exploits last season.

Pictures and plaques of past Pirates greats and the years the club won championships are displayed high above the lockers in the clubhouse.

While McCutchen respects the past, he's into the present.

"This year is about us playing hard every day, letting our talent come out and trying to win as many games as we can," he said.

Clement and Raynor are two of 11 players on the current roster wearing the black and gold for the first time.

Clement, 26, was a first-round selection of the Seattle Mariners the same year the Pirates chose McCutchen. He had 203 at-bats with Seattle in 2008, batting .227 with five homers and 23 RBI.

Acquired in the trade that sent Jack Wilson and Ian Snell to the Mariners, Clement is being counted on as a left-handed power bat to complement Garrett Jones in the lineup.

"Opening Day is a big deal in baseball, whether you're a fan or a player," Clement said. "Just being on a major league roster at this time of year is sweet, let alone being in the starting lineup."

Clement spent last year in Class AAA, hitting a combined 21 homers and collecting 90 RBI with Tacoma and Indianapolis.

How long he stays with the Pirates remains to be seen. If the former catcher doesn't produce at first base, Jones could play that position and Clement could return to Triple-A.

"I'm not going to put any pressure on myself," Clement said. "You have to just relax and play your game. I believe I belong here."

Clement hit .276 with two homers during spring training. He hit .375 in the last two weeks of preseason play.

"I was excited when I was traded here. It's a new opportunity," he said. "My approach is to work hard and play hard."

Raynor is the team's biggest surprise. Veteran players Brandon Moss and Ramon Vazquez were designated for assignment — Vazquez eventually was released — to make room for the Rule 5 outfielder nabbed from the Florida Marlins organization.

"That makes me feel pretty good," Raynor said. "I didn't know what to expect through all of spring training.

"Right up to the last day, I wasn't sure if I was going to be here or not."

Raynor, 26, never played a season of high Class A ball. He jumped from lower A directly to Class AA Carolina in the Marlins system, where he hit .312 with 13 homers, 51 RBI and had organization-highs of 104 runs scored and 48 stolen bases in 2008.

He hit .257 with six homers and 19 stolen bases at Class AAA New Orleans last year.

This is Raynor's first experience in the major leagues and he knows he won't get many at-bats.

"That's why I have to stay sharp in the cage and during batting practice," he said. "This season is going to be a challenge for me in that regard. I'm not going to hit in live game situations very much."