Brian Anderson (outfielder)

Brian Nikola Anderson (born March 11, 1982) is an American former professional baseball player. He played all or part of five seasons in Major League Baseball with the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox as an outfielder, a position he played professionally until before the 2010 season. He also played for the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees organizations as a pitcher.

For other people with the same name, see Brian Anderson (disambiguation).
Brian Anderson
Anderson with the Chicago White Sox
Center fielder
Born: (1982-03-11) March 11, 1982
Tucson, Arizona
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 16, 2005, for the Chicago White Sox
Last MLB appearance
October 4, 2009, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
Batting average.227
Home runs22
Runs batted in80
Teams

College career

Anderson is a graduate of the University of Arizona and Canyon del Oro High School in Oro Valley, Arizona, a suburb of Tucson. All-Star second baseman Ian Kinsler of the Texas Rangers was his best friend and teammate in high school,[1] where they played with Scott Hairston and the brothers Chris and Shelley Duncan.

In 2001, he played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Bourne Braves, and returned to the league in 2002 to play with the Cotuit Kettleers.[2] Anderson was named the top pro prospect in Arizona and ranked 27th in the nation by Baseball America. He was named to the Baseball America and USA Today Second-Team All-America team as a junior.

Playing career

Chicago White Sox

Anderson was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the first round (15th overall) of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his major league debut on August 16, 2005, and appeared in 13 games for the White Sox. That offseason, Chicago traded Aaron Rowand to the Philadelphia Phillies in a deal that brought Jim Thome to Chicago, clearing the way for Anderson to become the starting center fielder. In 2006, Anderson showed himself to be a gifted defensive outfielder, though he struggled offensively, finishing with a .225 batting average despite signs of improvement in the second half of the season and some corrections in his swing mechanics.[3] Anderson did not commit an error at the Major League level until August 18, 2006 against the Minnesota Twins, ending his streak of 110 errorless games. On May 20, 2006, Brian was ejected from an interleague game against the Chicago Cubs for fighting with Cubs first baseman John Mabry. Anderson was fined and served a five-game suspension.

Anderson lost his starting job to Darin Erstad in 2007, and after only 17 at-bats was sent down to the White Sox' AAA affiliate, the Charlotte Knights.[4] At Charlotte, Anderson hit for a .255 average before his season ended with an injury, a disappointment in contrast to his 2005 season in which he hit .295. He eventually earned a spot back on the major-league roster in 2008 as a backup outfielder after a superb spring training changed the organization's negative perceptions of his effort.[5]

Anderson again made the major-league roster in 2009 as a backup outfielder, with DeWayne Wise starting in center field.[6] However, Anderson retrieved the starting job after Wise was injured in April.

Boston Red Sox

On July 28, 2009, Anderson was traded to the Boston Red Sox for Mark Kotsay and cash considerations. He was non-tendered after the season.

Kansas City Royals

On December 23, 2009, Anderson signed a 1-year, $750,000 contract with the Kansas City Royals. After spring training, Anderson informed the Royals that he wanted to become a pitcher.[7] The Royals allowed Anderson to become a pitcher in the low minors. Anderson began the 2010 season with the Rookie-level Arizona Royals and was later promoted to the Burlington Bees, followed by the Omaha Royals.

New York Yankees

Anderson signed a minor league contract with an invitation to 2011 spring training with the New York Yankees.[8] He started off the season with the Double-A Trenton Thunder, recording one win, three holds, and a 1.17 earned run average (ERA) in seven appearances. He was placed on the disabled list on May 4, and was later released by the Yankees on May 27.[9]

Los Angeles Dodgers

On February 26, 2012, Anderson signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers with an invitation to spring training. On March 31, he was released.

Colorado Rockies

On April 7, 2012, Anderson signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies.[10] He was released 8 days later.

Return to Chicago White Sox

On January 15, 2015, Anderson attempted a comeback as a position player and signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox. He was released on April 2.[11]

References
  1. Grant, Evan (March 4, 2006). "Rangers' Kinsler eyeing second base". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
  2. "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  3. Merkin, Scott (2007-02-22). "Anderson looks to build on '06 lessons". MLB.com. Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
  4. "White Sox option Brian Anderson to Triple-A Charlotte" (Press release). Chicago White Sox. 2007-04-29. Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2007-04-30.
  5. Hill, Justice B. (2008-03-12). "Anderson altering perceptions". MLB.com. Archived from the original on 2009-08-02. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
  6. The Cheat (30 March 2009). "White Sox Settle Center Field, Leadoff Mess... for now". South Side Sox. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  7. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100401&content_id=9041808&notebook_id=9046800&vkey=notebook_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc
  8. McCarron, Anthony (12 February 2011). "Ex-outfielder Brian Anderson gives majors one final pitch with Yankees". nydailynews.com. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  9. New York Yankees release Trenton Thunder pitcher Brian Anderson, Newark Star-Ledger, May 27, 2011.
  10. Seidle, Curtis (11 April 2012). "Rockies sign Brian Anderson to Minor League Deal". Rox Pile. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  11. Adams, Steve (14 January 2015). "Minor Moves: Goebbert, McCutchen, Mattheus, Anderson, Schlereth". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
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