Potential 2013 Twins Draft Pick: Chris Anderson

[lightfoot789]

Chris Anderson had another shut out performance (3-0) over Stetson Friday night. He lowered his era to 0.96 and has 60 strikeouts on the season thru 47 innings pitched. He also has allowed only 8 BBs and holding opponents to .177 BA. He nearly has twice a many strikeouts to hits allowed (60 / 31). Top 5 nationally in Ks.

[Pierre K.]

And Tom Windle has been on fire as well. Go Minnesota!!!

[lightfoot789]

And who knows, it's still early, maybe Anderson and/or Windle become "elite" and finish as top 5 prospect status. People up there presently still have to perform and remain injury free. People can drop, and people can rise. And....if i'm the Twins, i'm drafting quality arms at the top of the draft. That is their biggest need.[/quote

 

Windle and Anderson are great prospects but come on...top 5? That's a huge reach. Unless there is an ungodly amount of injuries or they magicly gain better "stuff" I just can't see it. I was born in MN like a lot of people here but that doesn't mean Jack when it comes to drafting. Take the best Guy there regardless of birth certificate or position.

 

As the Devils Advocate: Why would you chose Appel? What has he shown "You" that you would select him ahead of Anderson? What do "you" know that would make him a sure fire Top 5 pick over Anderson? I believe most people want to go with what the experts say because they won't feel as bad if/when they miss. They can say everybody was wrong. What is the can't miss ingredient Appel has over Anderson? Neither had amazing stats before this year. Please share your reasoning for your sure fire pick? Whomever it may be?

[cmb0252]

People go with what experts say because they are experts! They are trained scouts and or work with scouts. Do you ask a cars salesmen for medical advise? Do you ask a teacher for law advise? No, you go to doctors and lawyers. Are they always right? No, but who is? Scouting isn't an exact science. Who cares if "I" "miss" on a Guy "I" like? I dont and sure as hell not the twins.

 

Both guys were very hittable last year but have been dominate this year (Appel being in the harder conference). Appel has a chance to have three plus pitched (fastball 70, slider 65, change up 65) while Anderson has one plus pitch (65 slider) and an above average fastball (55-60). From what I have read Andersons change up is currently average at best. Give me the Guy with the pedigree, more pitches, and better stuff.

 

There is nothing wrong with Anderson and he has a chance to be a good pitcher going forward, but who cares that he was born in Minnesota? I don't.

[beckmt]

From what I have read is not Appel considered a#2 or #3 starting pitcher. I would rather take a pitcher with a higher top end, considering what the Twins now have, they could use another #1 or #2 prospect not Appel.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

From what I have read is not Appel considered a#2 or #3 starting pitcher. I would rather take a pitcher with a higher top end, considering what the Twins now have, they could use another #1 or #2 prospect not Appel.

 

If you're looking for a higher-ceiling, you're probably looking at preps Kohl Stewart (football commit to Texas A&M) or (maybe) Hunter Harvey... you're also taking a much bigger risk.

 

Anderson's more of a flyball guy than Appel, if that matters at all.

[lightfoot789]

I trust experts too, but want more information before I rule another guy out. I kept hearing posters rave reviews about Appel and never heard why they liked him other than the experts say he's worthy of a number 1 pick. I just wanted information supporting those thoughts like Appel has 3 pitches at this rate and Anderson only has 2 pitches of significance, etc., etc... That made for good reading. I like to know why one prospect stands out over another and then decide if he's worthy of this pick or the next. Good stuff. I would only want the MN kid if he's worthy as well. If close, I also want the kid who wants to be in MN.

[Pierre K.]

I can tell you that Anderson has 4 quality pitches and scouts are very 'aware' of his skills. If he continues throwing the way he has, I believe you will see him go top 5. Fun to speculate, but it just has to play itself out. Personally i'd pass on Appel. Anyone DUMB enough to turn down that kind of money and risk it all to injury doesn't belong on my squad. (See Whitson)

[cmb0252]

The Appel not signing and going back to school debate has been beaten to death and I wont start it hear on Andersons post. While I don't see Anderson in the group of the other top guys I do believe he is in that next tier. Hopefully you are right and he can jump to the next tier because more guys deserving of the #4 pick the better.

 

What is his 4th pitch? I'm asking because I haven't heard anything about it.

[Pierre K.]

From his pitching coach -

 

"Early on in his career, he reminded me a lot of Matt Garza when I had him at Fresno State. He really wore his emotions on his sleeve. Now, though, he's the most composed guy that we probably have. His composure is now uncanny," Montez said. "We added a slider for him last year when he become a starting pitcher, while also refining the curveball and changeup."

 

After two seasons to refine his stuff, Anderson finally is in his perfect place. And from a prospect standpoint, there's very little, if anything, not to like about him. The talented right-hander has a physical and prototypical frame at 6-foot-4, 225-pounds, and reminds Montez a lot of former big leaguer Andy Benes.

 

"He's really put together well with a big, thick lower half, a lot like Andy Benes. Physically speaking, Andy was a strong and big righty," Montez said. "The thing that separates him right now is early in his career he had issues with location. Now, he's the type of guy who can locate four or five pitches. That just puts him over the hump."

 

Anderson is showing excellent stuff this spring. He's consistently 91-96 with his fastball, and has gotten up to 97. Meanwhile, his slider is a plus pitch and typically sits anywhere from 80-84, while his changeup is 79-80 mph and a plus pitch with good depth and late downward movement. The righty also throws a two-seam fastball and curveball.

 

"He's really learned to use all of his pitches now. He can throw a curveball early in the count, and the second and third time through the lineup, and still be effective. He can also use the changeup in the same fashion," he said. "The thing about Chris now is that hitters pretty much can't sit on anything. He'll throw any pitch in any count."

[Pierre K.]

From a Baseball America article -

 

"He's really developed a good changeup," Montez said. "He throws a cuveball and slider that he can locate—I would say the slider's his out pitch, and he can drop the curveball in to get-me-over early in the count, in case teams start being real aggressive on his fastball. It's a lot like the progression that Matt Garza made with me at Fresno State. Matt and Chris were very similar as freshmen—when they got into trouble, they tried to throw harder instead of smarter. As they grew and developed, they learned how to change speeds."

 

Montez also lets Chris call his own game.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'm assuming Appel will be off the board at number 4. Personally, I think their pick will be a tough choice between Anderson and Gray. Honestly, I'd be happy with either one, though I think Anderson might be a guy who will sign for under slot which allows them to go after someone else in later rounds. I'm kind of hoping Windle is still there at number 2. That would be 2 pretty decent near ready pitchers that would significantly improve the pitching outlook of the 2015/16 teams.

[Pierre K.]

Mlb.com currently ranks Anderson at 8. Click link to see video of him and all the top prospects. NOTE: Select (50 Draft)

 

2013 Prospect Watch | MLB.com: News

[cmb0252]

Anderson pitched vs Mercer on Thursday and had his only bad start of the year. Went 6 innings allowing 11 hits and 8 ER which raised his season ERA to a "massive" 2.21. He did strike out 10 and walked none which brings his K/BB ratio to an insane 70/8 for the season.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Keith Law's latest piece suggests Anderson's draft stock is falling - didn't look like a first-rounder while getting knocked around by Kennesaw State.

 

MLB Chris Anderson's stock is dropping - ESPN

[TwinsFanInPhilly]

Are you no longer updating the pitching lines in the first post of the thread? That is a nice summary.

[cmb0252]

"probably doesn't fit until the back of the first round unless the velocity he flashed earlier in the season returns."

Stuff-89-93 fastball with issues commanding it, slider was still a wipe out pitch, fringy curve, and an average change up.

[cmb0252]

Keith law talked to Kiley McDaniels this week on his pod cast, behind the dish, about the draft. The most interesting part to me was their conversation about Mr.Anderson and why he might drop in the draft. While Kiley still has Anderson in his top ten Law has dropped him from 12 to 24.

 

For anyone interested in the upcoming draft its a great listen AND free!

 

Behind The Dish - ESPN

[Pierre K.]

With a week of slowing down and rest, Chris is getting back to form.

 

From Perfect Game 4-19 -

 

Top performances

 

Chris Anderson, RHP, Jacksonville: The outstanding right-handed pitcher struck out five, walked three and allowed just a run (none earned) on six hits in a complete game performance.

[cmb0252]

Anderson threw very poorly this week vs a weak northern Florida team.

3/4 K/BB, 6.2 innings, 6H, 5 ER

 

Quote about the game from CC: He was cruising until the seventh innings, when it all seemed to fall apart for the entire Jacksonville pitching staff, so if you’re optimistic, you can chalk this up to “one bad inning”.

 

At one point he was in top 10 pick consideration and no chance to be around at 43. He has time to right himself but it is getting closer and closer to the draft. Maybe there is a possibility he will fall all the way to the second round.

[Pierre K.]

"weak northern Florida team"

 

Are you sure about that? They are 32 and 12, and 14 and 4 in conference!

[cmb0252]

"weak northern Florida team"

 

Are you sure about that? They are 32 and 12, and 14 and 4 in conference!

 

They are in a weak conference, they haven't played anyone outside of their conference, and currently have no real draft prospects. They are a fine college team, NCAA has them ranked 62 in their division 1 schools, but not good enough for a prospect like Anderson to go 3/4 K/BB ratio.

[Pierre K.]

You said they were a weak team and nothing about the conference. That's your opinion that the ASUN is weak, but the Ospreys are in 1st place. I don't personally think the ASUN is any better or worse than most other conferences top to bottom.

 

As for all these mock drafts. They are fun to look at, but with a month left to go, these scouting staffs pretty much know who and what they want. Yes, great or poor late season performances can sway a GM's pick from one to another but these guys pretty much have seen what they need to see. If a player gets taken in a particular round, that's probably where most teams had that player for quite a while.

[Pierre K.]

keith law -

 

Jacksonville RHP Chris Anderson has gone 10 innings tonight and faced 39 batters. Since 2003 only 2 MLB pitchers have faced 39+ in one game.

 

Final 2 games - 19 innings and 0 earned runs.

[kab21]

Before alarm bells start going off about pitch count it should be noted that college pitchers get 6 days of rest and it's pretty common that they have higher pitch counts than MLB pitchers with 4-5 days of rest.

 

He did probably throw too many pitches though. Perhaps he drops to the Twins due to an additional concern like this. At one time some on here were trying to make an argument for Anderson @ #4 mostly because he was one of the better college pitchers.

[cmb0252]

Before alarm bells start going off about pitch count it should be noted that college pitchers get 6 days of rest and it's pretty common that they have higher pitch counts than MLB pitchers with 4-5 days of rest.

 

He did probably throw too many pitches though. Perhaps he drops to the Twins due to an additional concern like this. At one time some on here were trying to make an argument for Anderson @ #4 mostly because he was one of the better college pitchers.

 

In the most updated mocks Law has Anderson going 17, BA has him going 20, Sickels 32, and Crawford not in the 1st. While he would be a solid pick at 43 if there I'm guessing he goes in the 20s. Pitched himself out of consideration in the top 10 but not out of the first round.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

BA has Anderson ranked as the #9 right-handed pitching prospect in their Draft Preview. I continue to feel pretty good about my Chris Stratton (20th pick last year) comp.

[Pierre K.]

Talked with a couple of scouts at last weekends game that would be thrilled to nab him around the 20 range. They know the situation he's had with poor defense (95 errors), hitting (255) and poor relief. They have also gunned him up to 98 recently. He will be gone somewhere in round one.

[Pierre K.]

Nice write-up on Chris -

 

The first-round roadblock for the Jacksonville University baseball program appears to be on borrowed time, thanks to Chris Anderson.

The Dolphins’ junior right-handed pitcher is expected to hear his name called before any other local product in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, which begins Thursday. The first and second rounds, and the new competitive balance rounds (a combined 12 picks that follow the opening two rounds) will be held Thursday.

Should he go in the first round, Anderson would become the first JU player drafted in the opening round. Pitcher Mike Christ, who was a second-round pick of the Seattle Mariners (29th overall) in 1984, remains the top draft pick in Dolphins history.

Anderson, 20, is poised to supplant Christ as various scouts and mock drafts put him anywhere between going as early as 11th and not getting past the Cardinals at No. 19. MLB.com has Anderson rated as the draft’s 16th best prospect.

“You know, I have [heard about JU’s lack of a first-rounder],” said Anderson, who went 7-5 with a 2.49 ERA last season for the Dolphins and has a fastball that can touch the mid-90 mph range.

“Some of teammates gave me a little grief about it. I’d feel honored to be the first guy,’’ Anderson said. “There have been so many good players in the past [at JU]. You look at guys in the past, guys who made big leagues. ... I’d be very honored to be the first.”

It hasn’t always been that way for Anderson, who arrived at JU as a dual-sport star (he was a solid quarterback for Centennial High School in Circle Pines, Minn.) and the state’s inaugural Mr. Baseball. Anderson was a two-way baseball player when he began playing for JU, a good pitcher and a good hitter. But he’d always had more upside as a pitcher and that’s the direction that the coaching staff wanted him to go in.

Dolphins coach Tim Montez said that’s why there were two Andersons at JU — the one before playing a summer in the Cape Cod League and the one after it.

“We just wanted him to concentrate on pitching, play against a little better competition,” Montez said. “I think he kind of realized and learned how to change speeds, refine his pitches. He came back this past fall and worked on his off-speed stuff, in particular, his changeup. He really took a big step forward in the fall; he cleaned up his mechanics a little bit and then it just started clicking. He could dominate the outer third of plate with his fastball.”

Not that Anderson was a project before his trip to the Cape (he was a freshman All-America after a 4-2 season with 11 saves), but he was trying to do too much.

Montez said that trying to transition from closer to starter is difficult enough because of how much more of a pitch selection a hurler must have. A reliever throws an inning or two, tops, and often just fastballs with some occasional off-speed stuff. JU wanted Anderson to be able to throw more than just two pitches and essentially take his mind off of batting altogether.

Even though he didn’t have the best statistical time in Cape Cod (6.34 ERA, 43 hits, 42 Ks in 33 innings), he returned to JU as a different player.

“That was a great experience, it helped me a lot,” he said. “I really just soaked everything in. I had a lot more knowledge for pitching after the Cape.”

That time in the Cape and his showing for most of the 2013 season put Anderson smack in the middle of the draft conversation. Not only can his fastball touch 94-96 mph, Anderson can throw a wicked slider, a curve and a changeup.

One longtime professional scout who spoke under the condition of anonymity as to not reveal his team’s draft strategy, said that Anderson’s progress has been remarkable to watch and felt he was a first-round lock.

“For me, he’s the most improved player, from freshman year to now, that I’ve had in my area,” the scout said. “He’s the best pitcher I’ve had in my area, period. Period. He throws four pitches for strikes. He commands them. He commands any pitch and at any time in the count.”