White Sox Rookie Tim Anderson Succeeding Early
Rookie shortstop continues to impress during first month with White Sox. Anderson has 12 multi-hit games and has displayed power with four home runs
The White Sox have played impressive baseball over the past two weeks. The team has won 10 of its last 14 games after an 8-2 victory over the New York Yankees on Monday. In that span, one player that has continued to stand out is Tim Anderson.
Anderson who was called up to the White Sox on June 10, has been a steady force offensively for the team. In the White Sox third consecutive victory on Monday, Anderson had another multi-hit effort which included a two-run home run. Anderson has 12 multi-hit games in his first month with the White Sox, and has hit four home runs.
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The 17th overall pick of the 2013 MLB Draft has displayed power early in his stint with the White Sox this season. Anderson, who hasn’t hit more than six home runs in any season while playing in the minor leagues, has hit four home runs in his last 10 games with the White Sox.
So far, Anderson has been able to adjust to major league pitching. Although Anderson has 33 strikeouts in 100 at-bats, he is still hitting .308 for the season. Anderson is having great success at the plate with pitches thrown high and inside in the strike zone according to data compiled from brooksbaseball.net. Anderson is hitting .600 with three hits in six attempts on pitches thrown in this area.
Anderson is also taking advantage of pitches in other areas of the strike zone. He’s hitting .429 on pitches low and away, and hit his home run off C.C. Sabathia on a first pitch fastball low in the zone.
The one area where pitchers are still exploiting Anderson is low and away out of the strike zone. Anderson has seen 13 pitches there, with nine of those pitches being breaking balls. The rookie shortstop will undoubtedly begin to see more breaking balls low and away as the league continues to make adjustments on him.
The White Sox couldn’t have expected for Anderson to contribute this early in his career. Anderson has also hit eight doubles in 23 games. Although Anderson has been impressive on offense, he’s been equally impressive on defense and with his baserunning.
Anderson has yet to make an error with the White Sox, and his range has been very impressive. After watching Jimmy Rollins struggle immensely with his range this season, it has been a pleasure for White Sox fans to see Anderson get to balls with ease. He made a spectacular play on June 30 against the Minnesota Twins to nab Trevor Plouffe out at first base.
The White Sox certainly needed a jolt spark after an unimpressive May and start of June. Anderson’s promotion to the team has been very beneficial for the offense. With the move to the leading off, Anderson has provided more speed at the top of the lineup. Although he has just two stolen bases, he’s still shown flashes of his speed as evidenced by him scoring from second base on Monday on bloop single by Jose Abreu.
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The White Sox still have a lot of baseball left to play, and they’re starting to play much better offensively. If Anderson can continue contributing for the White Sox, this team can most certainly remain in contention for a playoff berth.