Skip to main content

2018 Phillies Prospects Countdown: #7 RHP Drew Anderson

Drew Anderson, image- Jay Floyd
Righty hurler Drew Anderson earned a brief call up to the big leagues last season and is deservedly regarded as a valuable prospect in the Phillies system.  The promising 23-year-old is certainly a name that Phils fans should be familiar with by now.


The Reno, NV native was selected in the 21st round of the 2012 draft out of high school.  Upon turning pro, Anderson posted a 1-1 record with a 4.76 ERA in eight appearances with the Rookie level Gulf Coast League Phillies.

The following year, his first full season as a pro, Anderson tallied a 6-3 record with a 2.00 ERA, a .214 batting average against and a 6.4 K/9 mark in 15 starts as a member of the short-season Class A Williamsport Crosscutters.

In 2014, the six-feet-three 185-pounder posted a 4-4 record with a 4.68 ERA, a .266 batting average against and a 9.4 K/9 mark in eight starts for the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws.  He would miss time that year with an elbow strain and returned to action rehabbing with the GCL team in July but would miss the remainder of the season following a setback.

Rest and rehab did not do the trick and when pain returned in his elbow the following spring, Tommy John surgery took place in early April to repair his ulnar collateral ligament.

After missing the entire 2015 season, Anderson returned to action in late May 2016 after some rehab appearances in extended spring training.

As a member of the BlueClaws, Anderson would sport a 1-3 record with a 3.38 ERA, a .220 batting average against as well as a 10 K/9 mark in seven starts.  He would earn a promotion to Class A Advanced Clearwater where he continued to stand out. 

Upon joining the Threshers, he was the starter in a game in which the team notched a combined no-hitter.  For the Threshers in eight starts, Anderson put together a 2-1 record with a 1.93 ERA, a .217 BAA and a 10.2 K/9 mark.

In 2017, Anderson impressed with Double-A Reading, sporting a 9-4 record with a 3.59 ERA and a 7.2 K/9 mark.  Those overall numbers were good enough to earn him an All-Star nod, but his efforts early on were lackluster.  He tallied an 8.59 ERA in four April starts.  Following that, his ERA at that level was 2.81.  

Anderson would earn a promotion to the majors for two relief outings that didn't go very well (he allowed five earned runs in 1 1/3 innings) in August. Additionally, he wrapped up his regular season and went into the playoffs with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, allowing four earned runs and striking out 11 in 12 2/3 innings.

Prior to the surgery to repair his elbow, Anderson was mostly known as a control pitcher.  However, with conditioning work and improved strength in his lower half, he was able to add velocity following his return from injury.  Reports had him touching 97 MPH with his fastball at multiple times in 2016, regularly clocking in the mid-90's.

Also in his pitch repertoire are a very good curve ball that can miss a lot of bats and an improving change up that Anderson has worked to improve.

Locating pitches and his command will continue to be a plus for Anderson.  Coaches want to see him work to refine his pitches and improve his game calling.

The intangibles are what the organization likes about him the most.  Anderson is a focused and determined pitcher.  He is tough, wants to compete and loves to learn about the sport that is his career.

Anderson says he gauges his own success simply based on if he feels healthy the day after he pitches and if his team won.  His statistics, velocity and other things that key in reviewing baseball talent aren't details that he keeps tabs on at all.

With a bit of big league exposure under his belt, the talented youngster should be ready to contribute on a larger scale soon.


You can keep track of this year's Phillies prospect countdown at this link.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Mike McGuire Living a Dream With Favorite Team

LAKEWOOD, NJ- Every young ballplayer grows up wishing he could play for his favorite team. Mike McGuire has an opportunity to do just that after signing with the Phillies organization in July. McGuire was a 43rd round draft pick taken by the Cleveland Indians in the 2008 amateur draft out of the University of Delaware. Early scouting reports liked McGuire's abilities, despite some arm trouble. He advanced as far as High A Level Kinston last season. While there, he posted an 0-3 record with a 5.46 ERA in 9 games, 8 of which were starts. The Indians weren't happy with McGuire's efforts this spring and released him. McGuire caught on with the Sussex Skyhawks of the independent Can-Am League, where he stayed in shape and pitched against other formerly affiliated minor leaguers. As a starter with the Skyhawks, McGuire went 3-4 with a 5.29 ERA in 8 outings. From there, just as all players in those independent leagues hope for, the 24-year-old McGuire got noticed. The Phillies wer...

Harry's Plaque Has Misprint

At the ballpark today for the first time since Harry Kalas was inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame on Friday, I noticed an error in the text on his plaque. Verbage on the plaque reads like this... Voice of Phillies baseball on radio and TV for 39 seasons. Teamed with Richie Ashburn from 1971 until 1997. Harry was on the air for all of Mike Schmidt's 548 home runs, five Phillies no-hitters, seven National League Championship Series, three World Series, the first and final games at Veterans Stadium and the Citizens Bank Park 2004 opener. Received the prestigious Ford C. Frick Award in 2002 for "Major Contributions to Baseball" and was inducted into the broadcasters' wing at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. His calls were legendary, especially his signature home run call, "Outta heeere." On October 29, 2008, he brought utmost joy to Phillies fans: "The 0-2 pitch, swing and miss , struck him out. The Philadelphia Phillies are 2008 Worl...

Series Preview: Braves @ Phillies 5/7-5/9

The Braves make their first visit to Philadelphia this weekend, as the Braves (12-16) will face the Phillies (17-11) in a 3-game series. The series opener will see the 2nd meeting of Derek Lowe and Jamie Moyer this season. The first match up saw Moyer come out on top, when he pitched 6 shut out innings in Atlanta. That win clinched the series victory for the Phils. Off to a good start after winning that series opener against the Phils, the Braves have lost 11 of 15 games since then. The Braves won 5 of the 9 games against the Phils at Citizens Bank Park last season. Atlanta is currently in last place, 5 games behind the division leading Phillies. Read ahead for pitching match ups and other key stats from this series. Friday, 7:05pm. Derek Lowe (4-2, 5.81 ERA) vs. Jamie Moyer (3-2, 5.70 ERA). Lowe is 4-0 with a 1.60 ERA in five career starts at Citizens Bank Park. Lowe is 6-2 with a 2.87 ERA in 15 career games against Philadelphia. Raul Ibanez is 2-for-28 (.071 avg) in his career again...