White Sox AA player of August: SS Tim Anderson
If there is one player in the Chicago White Sox organization who has outplayed the competition they face on a daily basis, it is Birmingham Barons shortstop Tim Anderson.
Anderson has racked up production month after month and August may have been his best of all.
In the 30 games he played in last month, the 2015 Southern League All-Star hit .336/.397/.436 with two home runs, nine RBIs and 20 runs scored. He was also 12-14 in stolen bases.
While the knock on Anderson has always been his disinterest in taking walks, his eight walks in August were about as many as he had the entire first half of the year (nine in 64 games). Progress is progress right?
His best game of the month came on August 31st in a 5-4 comeback win against the Chattanooga Lookouts (Twins Double-A affiliate). Anderson came just a home run from the cycle going 3-5 with a stolen base and two runs scored. The last run he scored tied the game in the ninth inning as the Barons would go on to score on a walk-off single in the 10th.
Below are some of the highlights of that big night.
For the year, Anderson is hitting .312/.350/.429 with five home runs, 46 RBIs, 79 runs and is 49-62 in steal attempts. He leads the Southern League in hits, runs and stolen bases and is fourth in batting average.
It is unclear at the moment whether the White Sox will call him up to the majors at any point in September. According to manager Robin Ventura there might be a “second wave” of prospects that gets promoted soon.
Honorable mention
Christian Marrero has been a key cog to the Barons’ everyday lineup all season. He has twice been named my Double-A player of the month (May and June) and has been no stranger to honorable mention as well.
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Marrero once again falls under this category for his strong play in August. The 29 year old outfielder hit .303/.393/.404 with one home run, 15 RBIs and 15 runs scored. It is the second time he has had at least 15 RBIs in one month this season.
His best game of August came on the 24th in an 11-2 vicotry against the Jacksonville Suns (Double-A affiliate). Marrero went 2-3 with a home run, a walk and three RBIs. In the video below, you can watch him connect on the first inning three-run bomb.
For the season Marrero is now hitting .282/.390/.431 with 13 home runs, 63 RBIs and 69 runs scored. He leads the team in both homers and RBIs and his 78 walks are second in the Southern League.
Double-A player notes
I mentioned before that Marrero is second in the Southern League in walks. Barons’ first baseman Danny Hayes is first with 91 this season…. After a collision in the outfield with Anderson, Jacob May missed just under two months of action. Since his return, his average has dropped 35 points in 41 games (.311 to .276)…. Courtney Hawkins headlined a list of White Sox minor leaguers who will be playing in the Arizona Fall League this month. Hawkins has had yet another disappointing season posting a slashline of .243/.300/.410 with nine homers and 41 RBIs.
Next: White Sox Triple-A pitcher of August: SP Erik Johnson