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Tim Anderson (baseball)

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Tim Anderson
Anderson with the Chicago White Sox in 2017
Free agent
Shortstop
Born: (1993-06-23) June 23, 1993 (age 31)
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 10, 2016, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
(through June 30, 2024)
Batting average.278
Hits1,071
Home runs98
Runs batted in347
Stolen bases121
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
World Baseball Classic
Silver medal – second place 2023 Miami Team

Timothy Devon Anderson Jr. (born June 23, 1993) is an American professional baseball shortstop who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox and Miami Marlins.

Anderson played college baseball at East Central Community College, and was selected in the first round of the 2013 MLB draft by the White Sox. He made his MLB debut in 2016. Anderson led the American League in batting average in 2019, won the Silver Slugger Award in 2020, and was an All-Star in 2021 and 2022.

Early life

[edit]

Anderson was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. His father, Tim Sr., was arrested on drug trafficking charges before he was born and served the first 15 years of Tim Jr.'s life in prison.[1][2] His birth mother was already raising four children and was unable to care for Anderson as well,[3] so he was raised by his aunt and uncle along with their three children.[4] His grandfather took him to visit his father often, so that they could have a relationship.[5]

Anderson attended Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Anderson played little league baseball as a kid but eventually cut the sport out of his life up until his junior year of high school.[6] He focused on basketball in his first two years of high school, but broke both of his legs during his sophomore year. In his junior year, he played both baseball and basketball.[3][7] As a junior, Anderson batted .333 as a left fielder. In his senior year, Anderson played as an infielder and batted .420.[8] He was a part of the state basketball championship winning team in his senior year.[3][9] Standing at 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m), Anderson decided that he was likely too short to play professional basketball.[3]

College career

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Anderson enrolled at East Central Community College in Decatur, Mississippi, to play college baseball. East Central was the only school to offer Anderson a baseball scholarship.[10] In his freshman season, Anderson batted .360 with four home runs, 37 runs batted in (RBIs), and 30 stolen bases without being caught stealing.[8] However, he received no interest from Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, and was not selected in the 2012 MLB draft.[11] Returning to East Central for his sophomore year, Anderson had a breakout season, leading all junior college baseball players with a .495 batting average.[11] He was named a first-team National Junior College Athletic Association Division II All-American.[12] He committed to transfer to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).[9]

Professional career

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Draft and minor leagues

[edit]

The Chicago White Sox selected Anderson in the first round, with the 17th overall selection, in the 2013 MLB draft.[11] Anderson opted to sign with the White Sox, rather than enroll at UAB, for a signing bonus of $2,164,000.[13] Though expected to make his professional debut with the Bristol White Sox of the Rookie-level Appalachian League,[12] the White Sox assigned Anderson to the Kannapolis Intimidators of the Single–A South Atlantic League instead, a higher level than rookie ball.[14] He batted .277 with one home run, 21 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases in 68 games for Kannapolis.[15]

In 2014, Anderson began the season with the Winston-Salem Dash of the High–A Carolina League.[16][17] He broke his wrist in late June, requiring surgery.[18] In 68 games, Anderson had a .297 batting average, six home runs, and 10 stolen bases. He also committed 31 errors. When he returned in August, the White Sox promoted him to the Birmingham Barons of the Double–A Southern League,[19] where he batted .364 in 10 games.[20] The White Sox assigned Anderson to the Glendale Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League after the regular season.[21]

The White Sox invited Anderson to spring training in 2015.[20] He spent the season with Birmingham,[22] batting .312 with five home runs and 49 stolen bases, while also committing 25 errors.[23] Invited to spring training again in 2016,[24] the White Sox assigned him to the Charlotte Knights of the Triple–A International League at the beginning of the season.[25] In 55 games for Charlotte, Anderson batted .304 with four home runs, 20 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases.[26]

Chicago White Sox (2016–2023)

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2016–2019

[edit]

On June 10, 2016, the White Sox designated Jimmy Rollins for assignment and promoted Anderson to the major leagues.[26] Anderson made his MLB debut that day, hitting a double off of Ian Kennedy of the Kansas City Royals in his first at bat.[27] In the 2016 season, Anderson batted .283 with nine home runs in 99 games for the White Sox.[28]

Anderson tagging out Chris Taylor

Before the 2017 season, Anderson signed a six-year contract worth $25 million, with club options for both the 2023 and 2024 seasons.[29] He struggled in April 2017, batting .204 and striking out 24 times in 22 games.[30] For the 2017 season, Anderson batted .257/.276/.402, walked in 2.1% of his at bats (the lowest percentage in the major leagues), and had the lowest walks-per-strikeout ratio in the majors (0.08).[31] On defense, he led the major leagues in errors, with 28, and in fielding errors (with 16) and throwing errors (with 12).[32]

In 2018, Anderson had a .240 batting average with 20 home runs and 26 stolen bases.[33] On defense, he tied for the major league lead in throwing errors, with 12.[34] In 2019, Anderson batted .335 (leading the major leagues)/.357/.508.[35] He had the lowest walk percentage in the American League (2.9%).[36] He had career highs in hits with 167, despite having 88 fewer plate appearances than in 2018. He also had a career high in doubles with 32, and runs with 81. On defense, he led all major league players in errors committed, with 26, and had the lowest fielding percentage of all major league shortstops (.951).[37][38]

On April 17, 2019, Anderson was ejected after a bench-clearing incident in a game against the Kansas City Royals. After Anderson's fourth inning bat flip following a home run, he was hit by a pitch from Royals pitcher Brad Keller in his next at bat, causing both benches to clear. Two days later, Anderson was suspended one game by Major League Baseball for the use of a racial slur; ESPN's Jeff Passan reported that Anderson called Keller a "weak-ass f—ing n-word." Keller received a five game suspension.[39]

2020–22

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Overall with the 2020 Chicago White Sox, in the Covid-shortened season, Anderson batted .322/.357/.529 with 45 runs (tied for the AL lead), ten home runs, and 21 RBIs in 49 games.[40] He won a Silver Slugger Award that season.[41]

Anderson was the cover athlete for the 2021 installment of the R.B.I. Baseball video game series.[42] On July 10, 2021, Anderson was named to the 2021 MLB All-Star Game as a replacement for Carlos Correa, who had decided not to attend.[43] At the MLB Field of Dreams Game on August 12, 2021, Anderson hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning off of Zack Britton to win the game for the White Sox over the New York Yankees, 9–8.[44] Overall in 2021, Anderson batted .309/.338/.469 in 123 games, with 17 home runs and 61 RBIs. He had the lowest walk percentage in the major leagues, at 4.0%.[45]

During the White Sox game against the Cleveland Guardians on April 20, 2022, Anderson made three errors in the first two innings, then gave the finger to a fan who made a comment to him. Anderson apologized after the game. MLB suspended him for one game, but Anderson successfully appealed the suspension, which was replaced by a fine.[46][47]

During a game against the New York Yankees on May 21, 2022, Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson mockingly called Anderson "Jackie",[48] which was in reference to a 2019 interview in which Anderson said that he felt like "today's Jackie Robinson" in reference to him wanting to change baseball.[49] Later in the game, White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal confronted Donaldson, leading to both teams clearing their benches. After the game, manager Tony La Russa called Donaldson's comment "racist" and Anderson agreed with him.[48] Donaldson was suspended one game for "inappropriate comments" and apologized to both Anderson and Rachel Robinson, Robinson's widow.[50]

Anderson made the All-Star team for the second year in a row. Anderson was named the starter at shortstop for the American League, becoming the first White Sox shortstop to start in the All-Star game since Luis Aparicio in 1970.[51] In the game, Anderson went 1-for-2, with a single in the 4th.

On July 30, 2022, Anderson was thrown out of the game by umpire Nick Mahrley after arguing balls and strikes. Anderson became irate and seemingly bumped the umpire's cap with his own helmet. MLB suspended Anderson for three games and fined him an undisclosed amount for making illegal contact with an umpire. The suspension was reduced from three games to two on appeal.[52] On August 9, Anderson was placed on the IL with a torn hand ligament, ending his season. Overall in 2022, Anderson appeared in just 79 games, albeit with a .301 batting average, as well as six home runs and 25 RBIs.

2023

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In 2023, Anderson represented Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. In Team USA's third game of pool play against Canada, Anderson played at second base, the first time he had played the position in his professional career.[53]

Anderson missed playing time in April due to a knee injury.[54] He struggled in the first half of the season as he batted .223 by the All-Star break. Anderson also went homerless until on July 29 against the Cleveland Guardians when he hit his first home run of the season and his first homer in 379 days off of Logan Allen.[55]

On August 5, Anderson instigated a bench-clearing brawl with José Ramírez of the Cleveland Guardians after Anderson applied a tag to Ramírez during a game. They exchanged punches, with Ramirez knocking Anderson down to the ground. After the game, Ramírez said that Anderson had been "disrespecting the game for a while now".[56] Anderson was ejected from the game and suspended for six games, Ramirez for three.[57] On September 3, Anderson notched his 1,000th career hit with a lead off double off of Detroit Tigers starter Tarik Skubal.[58]

In 2023, Anderson had the lowest isolated power in the AL (.051) and hit the highest percentage of ground balls in the league (61.1%), while batting .245/.286/.296(the lowest slugging percentage in the AL), with an OPS of .582 (the lowest in the AL).[59][60][61] On November 4, the White Sox declined their $14 million option on Anderson for the 2024 season, instead paying him a $1 million buyout, making him a free agent.[62]

Miami Marlins (2024)

[edit]

On February 24, 2024, Anderson signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Miami Marlins.[63] In 65 games for the Marlins, he batted .214/.237/.226 with no home runs, nine RBI, and four stolen bases. On July 2, Anderson was designated for assignment by Miami.[64] He was released by the organization on July 5.[65]

Personal life

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Anderson and his wife, Bria (née Evans),[3] have two daughters and a son.[66][3] As of 2020, the family resided in Chicago year-round.[67]

In 2017, Anderson's best friend was shot and killed in Tuscaloosa; they were godfathers to each other's daughters.[30] This inspired Anderson to create a charitable foundation, called Anderson's League of Leaders, with the goal of supporting children in school and at home.[68] The foundation financially supports interventions in various causes, including bullying[69] and gun violence.[70] Anderson has been known for doing charity work around the south and west sides of Chicago, which he calls his "adopted hometown". In 2019, Anderson brought 75 kids from the south side of Chicago to the theater to watch the film 42 (2013), a biopic about baseball player Jackie Robinson.[71]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Lee, Michael (September 4, 2021). "Tim Anderson did not read the rules". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  2. ^ Merkin, Scott (May 11, 2018). "Anderson reunites with father at Wrigley". MLB.com. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Kane, Colleen (July 16, 2016). "White Sox rookie Tim Anderson exudes a quiet confidence". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  4. ^ Merkin, Scott (May 12, 2017). "Anderson credits mom, family for success". MLB.com. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  5. ^ Kenney, Madeline (May 12, 2018). "White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson, dad reunite after father's year in prison". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  6. ^ "On this day in Alabama history: Baseball player Tim Anderson was born". Alabama NewsCenter. June 23, 2019. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  7. ^ Montesi III, Louis (May 23, 2013). "East Central's Tim Anderson Heading to the MLB Draft". Wtok.com. Archived from the original on February 4, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Tsoukalas, Tony (March 1, 2013). "Anderson rated top-notch shortstop". The Meridian Star. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  9. ^ a b Champlin, Drew (June 7, 2013). "UAB signee Tim Anderson drafted in first round by White Sox". al.com. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  10. ^ Champlin, Drew (May 30, 2013). "Tuscaloosa native, UAB signee Tim Anderson has developed into top MLB Draft prospect". AL.com. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  11. ^ a b c Stephanie Apstein, SI.com (June 7, 2013). "Tim Anderson's rapid rise from hoops to JUCO to first-round pick - MLB - SI.com". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  12. ^ a b Padilla, Doug (March 4, 2014). "Top pick Anderson is off to Bristol - Chicago White Sox Blog - ESPN Chicago". Espn.go.com. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  13. ^ "Tuscaloosa native, UAB signee Tim Anderson signing with Chicago White Sox for more than $2 million". AL.com. June 12, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  14. ^ Feldman, Josh (June 20, 2013). "Top pick Anderson joins Kannapolis | Kannapolis Intimidators News". Milb.com. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  15. ^ "Former first rounder Anderson reaches MLB".
  16. ^ Scott Hamilton/Winston-Salem Journal (April 2, 2014). "Hamilton: Dash's Thompson says his young players are ready to go all out - Winston-Salem Journal: Scott Hamilton". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  17. ^ John Dell/Winston-Salem Journal (April 2014). "Dash sets sights on another Carolina League run - Winston-Salem Journal: Dash Baseball". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  18. ^ "No. 3 prospect Anderson has fractured right wrist". Chicago White Sox. Archived from the original on August 3, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  19. ^ "White Sox prospect Tim Anderson debuts at Double-A". Chicago White Sox. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  20. ^ a b Van Schouwen, Daryl (February 28, 2015). "White Sox stoked about developing shortstop Tim Anderson". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on March 2, 2015. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  21. ^ "For Chicago White Sox prospect Tim Anderson, the hits just keep on coming in the Arizona Fall League - MiLB.com News - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  22. ^ Curtright, Guy (April 28, 2015). "Southern notes: Anderson ready to shine: Athletic shortstop 'polishing up' his all-around game with Birmingham". MiLB.com. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  23. ^ Kane, Colleen (February 23, 2016). "Top White Sox prospect Tim Anderson could learn much from Jimmy Rollins". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  24. ^ Chicago Tribune (February 1, 2016). "White Sox prospect Tim Anderson hopes to have long stay at shortstop". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  25. ^ TEGNA. "Knights announce 2016 Opening Day roster". WCNC. Archived from the original on April 20, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  26. ^ a b Skrbina, Paul (June 10, 2016). "White Sox designate shortstop Jimmy Rollins, call up top prospect Tim Anderson". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  27. ^ Stavenhagen, Cody (June 10, 2016). "Anderson enjoys surreal big league debut". MLB.com. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  28. ^ Kruth, Cash (February 1, 2017). "Anderson a key part of White Sox rebuild". MLB.com. Archived from the original on March 22, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  29. ^ "Tim Anderson reaches 6-year, $25.5M extension with White Sox". ESPN.com. March 21, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  30. ^ a b "White Sox SS Tim Anderson mourning loss of slain friend". Usatoday.com. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  31. ^ "Major League Leaderboards » 2017 » Batters » Advanced Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball". Fangraphs.com. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  32. ^ "Major League Leaderboards » 2017 » All Positions » Fielding Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball". Fangraphs.com. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  33. ^ "MLB 2019: Opening Day arrives for players with Alabama baseball roots". March 28, 2019.
  34. ^ "Major League Leaderboards » 2018 » All Positions » Fielding Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball". Fangraphs.com. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  35. ^ "Tim Anderson Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  36. ^ "Major League Leaderboards » 2019 » Batters » Advanced Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball". Fangraphs.com. January 1, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  37. ^ "Major League Leaderboards » 2019 » Shortstops » Fielding Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball". Fangraphs.com. January 1, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  38. ^ "2019 Major League Baseball Fielding Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. January 1, 1970. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  39. ^ Abdeldaiem, Alaa (April 19, 2019). "Report: White Sox SS Tim Anderson Suspended for Actions, Language in Altercation vs. Royals". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  40. ^ "Tim Anderson Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  41. ^ Viola, Tommy (November 6, 2020). "Tim Anderson Wins Silver Slugger Award". MiLB.com. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  42. ^ "And the cover star for R.B.I. 21 is ..." MLB.com. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  43. ^ "White Sox' Tim Anderson replaces Carlos Correa on AL All-Star team | RSN". Nbcsports.com. July 7, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  44. ^ Merkin, Scott (August 12, 2021). "TA scripts Dream ending with walk-off HR". MLB.com. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  45. ^ "Major League Leaderboards » 2021 » Batters » Dashboard | FanGraphs Baseball". www.fangraphs.com.
  46. ^ "ChiSox's Anderson suspended for flipping off fan". ESPN.com. April 23, 2022.
  47. ^ "White Sox's Anderson has ban reduced to fine". ESPN.com. May 10, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  48. ^ a b Axson, Scooby (May 21, 2022). "Tim Anderson calls Josh Donaldson's 'Jackie' comment racist after benches clear in White Sox-Yankees game". USA Today. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  49. ^ Apstein, Stephanie (May 6, 2019). "Tim Anderson is going to play baseball his way". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  50. ^ "Donaldson apologizes to Robinson's wife, family". May 26, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  51. ^ "Anderson Sox' first starting All-Star SS since Aparicio". RSN. July 8, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  52. ^ "White Sox SS Tim Anderson Has Suspension Reduced to Two Games - Sports Illustrated". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  53. ^ "Tim Anderson at second base? Works for White Sox manager Pedro Grifol". March 15, 2023.
  54. ^ "White Sox star Anderson (knee) out 2-4 weeks". ESPN.com. April 11, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  55. ^ "It Finally Happened: Tim Anderson Hits First Home Run of 2023 Season". On Tap Sports Net. July 29, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  56. ^ Meisel, Zack (August 5, 2023). "White Sox's Tim Anderson, Guardians' José Ramírez ejected in bench-clearing brawl". The Athletic. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  57. ^ "MLB suspends Chicago's Tim Anderson 6 games, Cleveland's José Ramírez 3 for fighting". AP News. August 7, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  58. ^ "Anderson reaches 1,000th career hit milestone". mlb.com. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  59. ^ "Major League Leaderboards - 2023 - Batting". FanGraphs Baseball.
  60. ^ "Major League Leaderboards - 2023 - Batting". FanGraphs Baseball.
  61. ^ "Major League Leaderboards - 2023 - Batting". FanGraphs Baseball.
  62. ^ "ChiSox end Anderson deal; Stroman opts out". ESPN.com. November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  63. ^ Rogers, Jesse (February 24, 2024). "Tim Anderson signs 1-year, $5M contract with Marlins". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  64. ^ "Marlins designate shortstop Tim Anderson for assignment". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 2, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  65. ^ "Transactions". MLB.com. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  66. ^ Thompson, Phil (April 3, 2019). "Tim Anderson goes on the paternity list — out for 1 to 3 days — after the birth of his 2nd daughter". Chigaco Tribune. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  67. ^ "Tim Anderson Is Here to Save Baseball From Itself". The New York Times. March 9, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  68. ^ Tayler, Jon (May 15, 2019). "Tim Anderson: White Sox SS started 'League of Leaguers' - Sports Illustrated". Si.com. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  69. ^ "Tim Anderson preaches anti-bullying". MLB.com.
  70. ^ "Tim Anderson, White Sox teammates wear orange to support end to gun violence | RSN". Nbcsports.com. June 5, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  71. ^ Bauer, Kelly (May 9, 2019). "White Sox's Tim Anderson Donating To Anti-Violence Efforts Every Time He Steals A Base". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
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