Miami Marlins Top Ten Prospects For 2017
2. Brian Anderson, 3B
Birthdate: 5/19/93 (23 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: high A, AA
Stats in 2016: .265/.348/.389, 11 HR, 3 SB
Coming out of college, Anderson was already highly-regarded defender, with some feeling he could play either position on the left side of the infield his glove work was so strong.
The bat was more raw, but there was plenty to dream on. This season started to see some of that work pay off. He has solid raw power in batting practice, but he struggled to translate that into real game power until this season, when he put up 21 doubles, 3 triples, and 11 home runs in 483 at bats in two pitching-strong leagues.
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Anderson then went to the Arizona Fall League, and he has received big time praise at the AFL, which led me to bump him up this high. Anderson’s defense is already grading as a major league above-average defender at third, and the bat is said to be playable at this point at third, with more there that could still develop.
Late developing guys like Anderson often take baseball by surprise and have a short, bright time in the big leagues, akin to someone like Bill Mueller, who was solid enough with the glove to stick after breaking in late until he had three big offensive years in his early 30s.
Anderson isn’t the contact guy that Mueller is, but figuring a similar run for a guy who could provide power along with solid defense until he has that mid-career boom would be a not-surprising career arc.
Next: #1