Brian Anderson (outfielder)

Brian Nikola Anderson (born March 11, 1982) is an American professional baseball player who is currently a free agent. 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. Since then he has also played for the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees organizations as a pitcher but was never called up with either team.

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 of the Washington Nationals, Chris Duncan,and Shelley Duncan

Anderson was named the top pro prospect in Arizona and ranked number 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 2005 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 for the White Sox. 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.^[2] 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. Mabry had X-rays taken on his ribs, but did not miss any games due to injury. 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.^[3] 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.^[4]

Anderson again made the major-league roster in 2009 as a backup outfielder, with DeWayne Wise starting in center field.^[5] 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 by the Red Sox after the season, leaving the next season to go to Kansas City.

Transition to pitching

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.^[6] 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.^[7] 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.^[8]

Los Angeles Dodgers

Sometime during the 2011–2012 offseason Anderson signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers with an invitation to spring training. On March 31, 2012 Anderson was released by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Colorado Rockies

On April 7, 2012 Anderson signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies but was released 9 days later.

Return to Chicago White Sox

On January 14, 2015 Anderson signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox.^[9]

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)