National League MVP Andrew McCutchen proposes to girlfriend on Ellen

Dec. 11 (UPI) -- National League MVP Andrew McCutchen was certainly hoping he wouldn’t strike out during his appearance on Ellen on Wednesday.

While he was on the show, the Pittsburgh Pirates star professed his love for girlfriend Maria Hanslovan and then knocked one out of the park by getting down on one knee and asking for her hand in marriage. His proposal was a hit and she said yes.

“I’ve always envisioned that I would be on the highest mountain in the world and my voice would be as loud as a lion’s roar times a billion so the whole world could hear me just tell you how much I love you,” McCutchen said. “I didn’t do any of this for the publicity. I didn’t do any of this for the recognition. I did this to show you that if I could tell the whole world how much I love you, I would do that.”

Prior to the proposal, host Ellen DeGeneres showed a video montage of McCutchen and Hanslovan, which the ballplayer narrated.

“When I hit a homerun, it’s a homerun, but there’s a bigger picture behind it for me. Going to first, going to second, going to third and then going home… each base that I touch, it means a year,” he said.

“In the beginning it was definitely fun, getting to know each other, staying up late at night, talking on the phone for four hours…. We continue to just get stronger. Not only stronger with each other, but with God. So when I step on third base and look toward home, I know that you’re always going to be there waiting for me. That’s why I always tip my cap every time I touch home plate.”

McCutchen batted .317 with 21 homeruns, 84 RBI and 27 stolen bases during the 2013 season and helped lead the Pirates to the playoffs.

[WPXI]