White Sox AA position player of the month: SS Tim Anderson
Tim Anderson was the 17th overall selection in the 2013 amateur draft and is the top rated position player prospect in the Chicago White Sox organization.
It’s no secret that baring any kind of incredible drop in production, he will be the team’s starting shortstop next season, maybe even later this season.
In 2014, Anderson hit .301/.327/.481 with nine home runs and 10 stolen bases in 83 games between rookie ball, Winston-Salem (A Adv) and Birmingham (AA) before a wrist injury cut his season short.
His only flaw seemed to be on defense where he committed 34 errors which is extreme considering how many games he didn’t play because of injury.
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This season, he has picked up right where he left off. In the month of April, Anderson hit .313/.333/.381 with 13 RBIs, 11 stolen bases and nine runs scored. In nine of the 20 games Anderson played in last month, he had at least two hits.
He has also been better defensively as he committed just three errors in April.
Anderson is not a guy who will regularly showcase power (zero HR this season), but his speed makes him an extra-base hit threat every time in the box. Check out how quick he got to third on this triple in a game earlier this season.
As the White Sox major league team continues to struggle, it may be worth keeping an eye on Anderson’s progress. If they are sellers at the trade deadline this season, Alexei Ramirez and his expiring contract is sure to be at the top of the movable assets list.
A move of Ramirez opens the door immediately for the White Sox shortstop of the future.
Honorable Mention
Many publications have given the White Sox credit for their first two selections in the 2013 draft (Anderson and Tyler Danish). The next player the team picked was Jacob May.
May is an outfielder who can cover a lot of ground in the outfield and fits the bill in every way of the prototypical leadoff hitter. He can hit for average, draw a walk and when on base, is a legitimate threat to swipe a bag.
In 2014, May saw his average and home runs drop at Winston-Salem but increased his walk rate and stole a career-high 37 bases.
For the Birmingham Barons this season, he hits second behind Anderson and has flourished.
In the month, May hit .313/.345/.400 with seven RBIs, six stolen bases and seven runs scored. May also has two hits or more in eight of the 20 games he played in April.
Because of his lack of high end potential, May doesn’t get much conversation as one of the team’s top prospects. If he continues to play the way has started this season he is a player we are sure to hear more about as the year progresses.
Next: White Sox AA Pitcher of the Month: SP Tyler Danish