Top Prospect
Alert
In a very deep and talented Florida Marlins system that boasts some of
the best young arms both in the minors and now currently at the major
league level in the likes of Brad Penny, Josh Beckett, A.J. Burnett, etc.,
this 20-year-old righty gets a bit overshadowed by these other future
stars. However, Anderson should become a fixture either at or near the top
of the Marlins rotation for years to come.
Standing at 6-foot-4 and 175 pounds, Anderson was a 14th round
selection in the 1997 draft largely because many were sure that he would
play college baseball at the University of Arkansas. Instead, he decided
to trade in the chance to wear the Razorbacks uniform in exchange for the
teal of the Marlins. He signed late and made his pro debut in the Gulf
Coast League in 1997.
Since debuting, all Anderson has done is shown what a mistake other
teams made in not taking the risk of drafting him. In 1999, he pitched for
Kane County in the Midwest league and dominated batters with a
low-to-mid-90s fastball, good slider, and changeup. He ended up compiling
a 9-5 record with a 3.21 ERA, two complete games, 137 innings pitched, 111
hits allowed, 51 walks, and 134 strikeouts in 23 starts. The only negative
to his season was that he had a bout of shoulder tendinitis that forced
him to miss a few starts during the season. However, once he came back, he
showed no ill effects from it.
John Smoltz is the comparison you always seem to hear in talking about
Anderson. I like that choice and think Anderson could put up very similar
stats as he has the brains and all the skills to do so once he makes it to
the majors and gets his feet wet.
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