Ryan Anderson
| IP | 399 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.947 |
| WHIP | 1.414 |
| BB/9 | 5.008 |
| SO/9 | 11.617 |
- Full name Ryan York Anderson
- Born 07/12/1979 in Southfield, MI
- Profile Ht.: 6'10" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Divine Child
- Drafted in the 1st round (19th overall) by the Seattle Mariners in 1997 (signed for $2,175,000).
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Anderson saw one impressive streak end in 2002 and another he'd like to avoid continue. His five-year run atop the Mariners' prospect list ended, not because he finally established himself in the majors, but because he tore the labrum in his left shoulder for the second straight spring. He has had two surgeries and hasn't pitched in a regular-season game since 2000. They hope he'll be ready for spring training. Before he got hurt, Anderson was as intimidating as any lefthander this side of Randy Johnson. At 6-foot-10 and possessing a 94-97 mph fastball, batters didn't relish facing him. But as overpowering as he could be, Anderson wasn't a finished product when his shoulder started acting up. He was still putting the final touches on a slider that was becoming a second plus pitch, and his changeup and command still needed work. And despite his size and stuff, Anderson never truly dominated at any level of the minors. He may not have worked as diligently as he should coming back from the first surgery, but he has learned his lesson. Anderson was able to pitch off a mound again last fall and should be ready to go for spring training. Seattle obviously will handle him carefully in hopes he can return to his previous form. -
Anderson has ranked No. 1 on this list for five consecutive seasons. He didn't figure to be eligible again because he was expected to lose his rookie status in 2001. But while the game's other great left-hander prospect, C.C. Sabathia, was winning 17 games for Cleveland, Anderson didn't take the mound during the regular season. He couldn't get loose during a spring workout and was diagnosed with a torn labrum, requiring shoulder surgery that kept him out until instructional league. It was a blow to an organization that had just lost another rotation candidate, Gil Meche, to a similar injury the month before. Few players can match Anderson's ceiling. The only left-hander in baseball who's more intimidating is Randy Johnson, to whom he's often compared. Anderson isn't nicknamed "Little Unit" for nothing. He has a 94-97 mph fastball that he has used to average 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings as a pro. He was refining his slider into a plus pitch and developing his changeup before he got hurt. He also had improved his command each season. With his stuff, there's no question Anderson can become a legitimate No. 1 starter. He should be stronger than ever once his rehabilitation is complete. Anderson's latest step was to throw in the bullpen in instructional league, so he still hasn't come all the way back. He also came down with shoulder tendinitis at the end of 2000, costing him any chance of making the U.S. Olympic team. His career record is just 20-26 because he's never put together an extended run of dominance. Anderson still has to improve his secondary pitches and control, though he did hold his own in Triple-A before he reached the legal drinking age. Lefthanders shouldn't stand a chance against him, but they've hit .329 since he reached Double-A. The Mariners aren't going to take any chances with Anderson. He'll report early to spring training. He won't be in the running for a rotation spot and may open the year in Double-A San Antonio, where the climate is warmer than in Triple-A Tacoma. He'll be kept on tight pitch counts wherever he goes. His future is still bright, though he won't have much if any major league impact before 2003. -
When Anderson began the 2000 season by dominating the Pacific Coast League in his first few starts, the clamor began for the Mariners to call him up Interstate 5. The Mariners resisted the urge, sticking with the preseason plan of letting the Space Needle spend at least a half-season in Triple-A. They were proven correct, as the consistency Anderson has searched for since signing remained out of his grasp. His struggles may have been for the best, as pressure waned to promote the young man who has been the No. 1 prospect in the organization since signing. Anderson was shelved late in the season by shoulder tendinitis, which cost him a chance to pitch for the U.S. Olympic team. He returned to make one start at the end of the year for Tacoma and showed his mid-90s fastball was back. When everything is clicking, Anderson works comfortably in the 94-97 mph range and mixes in a slider that should become a plus major league pitch. His changeup is an effective third pitch. He has the stuff to dominate, and many feel it's only a matter of time before he joins the elite group of legitimate No. 1 starters. Though he still walked more than a batter every two innings, his control took a step forward. He also has made tremendous strides off the field. The immaturity that dogged him earlier in his career is a footnote. Anderson has yet to string together the season the Mariners know he's capable of. He follows Randy Johnson-like performances with back-to-back disappointing outings. That's how a pitcher with his repertoire can own a 20-26 career record. He went through three different deliveries at Double-A New Haven in 1999 and still hasn't mastered the more compact motion that will take him to the next level. When his mechanics get off he loses velocity, falls behind hitters and throws too many pitches. He needs to consistently last longer than five or six innings. After taking the winter off, Anderson will go to spring training for the first time with a legitimate shot at a major league job. Seattle's big league depth will allow the club to be patient, but many in the organization are rooting for him to push his way into the rotation. -
Background: The Young Unit received the top bonus in club history in 1997 after he dropped into the Mariners lap with the 19th overall pick. Anderson doesn't lack for confidence, going so far as saying he wanted to be the best pitcher ever shortly after he was drafted. He rankled some feathers in his first spring camp when he talked about "dominating" major league hitters during their first batting practice session. When he finally got down to the business of pitching, however, he let his arm do the talking. He had an impressive pro debut at Class A Wisconsin, and his final numbers would have been even better had he not missed a month of the season with a triceps strain. While in instructional league this offseason, Anderson was summoned to make an emergency start for Peoria in the Arizona Fall League. He models his pitching after his hero Randy Johnson, though as Mariners director of professional scouting Ken Compton puts it, "he just copied the good stuff, which is why he's ahead of Randy at the same age." Strengths: Anderson's fastball has touched 99 mph. He can consistently throw in the 90-95 mph range, and he settled in nicely there last season once he realized he didn't have to max out on every pitch. He has the makings of an excellent breaking ball and a good changeup. He is a quick learner and made tremendous strides last season both mentally and physically. Weaknesses: With more experience Anderson will become more consistent with his pitches. He must work to keep his arm angle in the same slot every time; if he does, his control, which is impressive considering his size, stuff and lack of experience, will get even better. Off the mound, he has room to mature emotionally, and it will be to his benefit to consider the consequences before he speaks at times. The "dominating" comment was not meant as it came out, and the Mariners think the episode proved to be a good lesson for him in the end. The Future: Anderson will likely begin the 1999 season at Class A Lancaster, and it's likely he won't be there long. The Mariners think he has the potential to be a dominant No. 1 starter.
Minor League Top Prospects
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As a 6-foot-10 lefthander in the Mariners system, Anderson can’t help but draw comparisons to Randy Johnson. He did his best to live up to them in April, when he dominated PCL hitters and seemed on the verge of forcing a callup to Seattle. He tailed off for two months, then began to rebound in July before being shut down with shoulder tendinitis. There are no concerns about Anderson’s long-term health, but he did lose out on either a berth on the U.S. Olympic team or a September callup. Managers don’t doubt that there will be plenty of glory in Anderson’s future. "He just needs command," Salt Lake manager Phil Roof said. "He has confidence and maturity, and he’s way ahead of where Randy Johnson was at the same point. And people overlook his changeup." It’s easy to overlook a guy’s changeup when he has a fastball in the upper 90s and a hard curveball that’s deadly when he throws it for strikes. Though Anderson is a power lefthander, he has surprising trouble with lefties, who hit nearly twice as well against him (.360) as righthanders (.184). At 21, he may need a few more Triple-A innings at the beginning of 2001. -
Anderson was compared in size and style to former Mariners lefthander Randy Johnson even before Seattle selected Anderson in the first round in 1997. He showed sporadic brilliance in his Double-A debut, which was interrupted three times by appearances at the Futures Game, the Double-A all-star game and the Pan Am Games. He was the only player to appear in all three events. "The potential is there," said Varsho, who was Anderson's manager in 1998 at Class A Wisconsin. "He needs to mature and understand that his fastball is going to be his strength, not his curveball."
Top 100 Rankings
Scouting Reports
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As a 6-foot-10 lefthander in the Mariners system, Anderson can’t help but draw comparisons to Randy Johnson. He did his best to live up to them in April, when he dominated PCL hitters and seemed on the verge of forcing a callup to Seattle. He tailed off for two months, then began to rebound in July before being shut down with shoulder tendinitis. There are no concerns about Anderson’s long-term health, but he did lose out on either a berth on the U.S. Olympic team or a September callup. Managers don’t doubt that there will be plenty of glory in Anderson’s future. "He just needs command," Salt Lake manager Phil Roof said. "He has confidence and maturity, and he’s way ahead of where Randy Johnson was at the same point. And people overlook his changeup." It’s easy to overlook a guy’s changeup when he has a fastball in the upper 90s and a hard curveball that’s deadly when he throws it for strikes. Though Anderson is a power lefthander, he has surprising trouble with lefties, who hit nearly twice as well against him (.360) as righthanders (.184). At 21, he may need a few more Triple-A innings at the beginning of 2001.
