Scouting Update: Tyler Anderson, LHP, Oregon (2011 Draft)
By John Klima
April 23, 2010
Deliberate but fearless, Oregon left-hander Tyler Anderson is about the eighth left-handed pitcher named Tyler we’ve covered here on Beginnings…Matzek, Skaggs, Lyons, Blandford. Ok, well maybe just the fifth.
Anderson (6-4, 215), a sophomore from Spring Valley HS in Las Vegas who was drafted by the Twins in the 50th round in 2008, should find himself in a much better round in 2011. With tall, high hips, broad shoulders, and a strong chest that offers durability projection, Anderson is good at being what he is – a guessing-game guy.
His fastball was 89-91, averaging 89-90 in this look, with above-average command for most of the outing. His slider is 77-84 and averaged 81, showing a harder sweeping slider and a slurve-type that doubled here as a change-up. He also threw a change-up at 81, though he’s not yet creating enough separation and deception between the two pitches.
Most left-handers develop the change-ups for right-handers a little later than their sophomore years in college, so I’m inclined to check back on Anderson in the future to monitor his progress as a potential three-pitch major leaguer starter in the mold of a Tommy John, long before he was known for a medical procedure.
Anderson should get high marks for pitchability in the coming years and the ability to work within himself. He’ll likely lack the power that would make him a premium left-handed starter, but his fastball command and slider will give him a shot. Anderson has just enough stuff to make him dangerous. You can’t take his command and control away.
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