Ian Anderson

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #2 prospect in 2021
  Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Changeup: 60. Control: 60.
  Track Record: Anderson quickly ascended the minors after being drafted third overall in 2016 and made a tremendous impact in his big league debut. Called up after the Braves’ rotation was eviscerated by injuries, Anderson was one of the game’s best pitchers in September and October. He allowed two earned runs in 18.2 innings. opening with three consecutive scoreless outings and starting Game 7 of the NLCS.
  
  Scouting Report: Anderson does a tremendous job limiting hard contact and generating whiffs with his three-pitch mix. His fastball sits around 94 mph and gives hitters a unique look with low spin rates and more drop than a typical fastball. That pairs wonderfully with an 86-88 mph changeup that generated a 40% whiff rate in his debut. It has less movement than typical changeups, but plays well because he sells it out of his overhand arm slot. Anderson’s confidence and ability to throw it for strikes makes his changeup a plus offering. His curveball is his third pitch, but it is enough of a different look to keep hitters off-balance. While no single pitch is a true wipeout, his ability to tunnel them and command the ball makes his arsenal deadly, especially with his ability to consistently change hitters’ eye levels.
  
  The Future: Anderson has solidified his place as the Braves’ No. 3 starter. The development of his breaking ball will determine if he becomes more.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #3 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: The Braves made Anderson the third overall pick in 2016 and signed him for $4 million to forgo a Vanderbilt commitment. After steadily filling out his lanky frame and cruising through the lower levels, Anderson went 8-7, 3.38 at Double-A and Triple-A in 2019 and finished fourth in the minor leagues with 172 strikeouts.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Anderson's fastball sits 92-94 mph and has touched 96-97 in the past, although he didn't show that top-end velocity much last season. It's still a plus offering thanks to the angle he creates out of an overhand arm slot, and he's been effective pitching both up and down in the zone with his fastball. Anderson's 12-to-6 curveball is an above-average offering he has learned to spot more consistently, but he struggles at times to get hitters to chase it out of the zone. He also has a firm, mid-to-upper 80s changeup he's shown feel for and that projects to be an above-average pitch. Outside of his five-game stint in Triple-A, Anderson showed improved feel for throwing strikes and projects for above-average control despite some stiffness in his delivery.
  
  THE FUTURE: Anderson should start 2020 back at Triple-A Gwinnett. He projects as a future a middle-of-the-rotation starter and is in line to make his major league debut in 2020.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #2 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: As the third pick in the 2016 draft, Anderson tied Steve Avery and Ken Dayley as the highest-drafted pitcher in club history. Given a chance to throw more innings in 2018, Anderson made every start. He finished his season at Double-A Mississippi with two of his best outings of the year, including a 10-strikeout outing in his season finale.
  
  Scouting Report: Anderson has the pieces to be a frontline ace if his control and command catch up to his stuff. He has a n excellent pitcher's frame with further room to fill out and a fluid, fast arm. His foundation is a plus-plus 92-97 mph four-seam fastball. Working from an over-the-top delivery, when he's on he can consistently get plenty of plane on a fastball that tickles the bottom of the zone and he has enough life to elevate for swings and misses. His 75-79 mph curveball is a plus pitch with 12-to-6 movement. He also throws an 86-88 mph changeup that flashes above-average with deception and occasional late drop. Anderson has started to feel comfortable enough to throw his changeup to righthanders as well as lefties. He stays direct to the plate in his delivery, but his fastball command is scattershot. There's nothing in his delivery that indicates long-term control concerns, but his currently below-average control needs to improve by more than a grade to reach his lofty ceiling.
  
  The Future: Anderson will head back to Double-A in 2019. He could be ready for a September callup, but the Braves have a full rotation of starting candidates ticketed for Triple-A who will be ahead of him.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #5 prospect in 2018
  Anderson was a victim of his own success in 2017. His success and efficiency in the first half meant he bumped up against his innings limit earlier than expected. Worried about overtaxing a cold-weather arm in his first full season, the Braves slammed the brakes on Anderson's pitch limits, holding him to just 17.2 innings in the final two months. The Braves' initial point of emphasis with young pitchers is to teach them to throw a quality changeup. Anderson embraced the pitch, developing it from an afterthought to a pitch that flashes above-average in the span of a year. The improved change gives him a chance to end up with three above-average pitches. His 91-95 mph fastball touches 97, and he gets downhill thanks to his over-the-top delivery. As he worked on his change, Anderson relied less on his plus curveball with 12-to-6 action, but it's still his best secondary offering. His walk numbers would indicate otherwise, but scouts believe Anderson has advanced control and command for his age, despite his walk rate of 4.7 per nine innings. Anderson projects as a future No. 2 or 3 starter, though he has to prove his durability and consistency. He will jump to high Class A Florida in 2018.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #5 prospect in 2017
  Anderson attracted attention in the Metropolitan Baseball Classic prior to his junior year and took off when he pitched against fellow New York state prep and 2015 first-round pick Garrett Whitley the following spring. Despite battling pneumonia and a minor injury during his senior year, Anderson ranked high on the Braves' 2016 draft board, and Atlanta drafted the lanky, projectable righthander third overall and signed him for a below-slot $4 million. He possesses the classic combination of current ability with the potential to become even better with experience and physical development. A cerebral pitcher who was a Vanderbilt commit, he has impressed with his calm, mature approach and ability to dissect the strike zone with his impressive command and ability to work both sides of the plate. He throws all three of his pitches from the same release point, which makes them difficult for hitters to decipher. His fastball sits 92-94 mph and has touched 97. He also throws a late-breaking curveball, with above-average potential and 10-to-4 shape at 79-81 mph and a plus changeup in the mid-80s. After spending his pro debut at Atlanta's two Rookie-level affiliates, Anderson will open 2017 at low Class A Rome. From there he has the ability to move quickly as he develops into a mid-rotation starter at the big league level.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #12 prospect in 2016 draft
  Anderson's prospect balloon started to inflate in the summer prior to his junior year, when he showed off his lanky, projectable frame at the Metropolitan Baseball Classic. Then, during his junior year, Anderson pitched against 2015 first-round pick Garrett Whitley. Anderson went on to become a regular on the showcase circuit. The wiry Vanderbilt signee showed a promising fastball in the summer, regularly sitting 89-93 and bumping 94. In the spring, Anderson's velocity peaked even higher early in the season, reaching as high as 96 mph. The righthander complements his fastball with a late-breaking curveball in the upper 70s, which grades out as an above-average pitch, and a devastating mid-80s changeup, which garners plus grades from scouts. Anderson throws all three pitches from an identical release point, making his pitches difficult for hitters to identify. Anderson added a little bit of weight to his 6-foot-4, 180-pound frame over the winter, but scouts are dreaming on him continuing to get stronger, wondering just how high his ceiling could be if he can add more strength. Anderson has battled pneumonia and an upper body injury this spring, but he's shown enough at this point to put himself firmly in the first round, and he could go as high as the top five if he proves himself to be healthy over the final weeks of the season.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Southern League #8 prospect in 2019
  The No. 3 overall pick in 2016, Anderson spent the bulk of 2019 in the Southern League and led the circuit with 147 strikeouts at the time he was promoted to Triple-A in August. He finished fourth overall in the minors with 172 punchouts. Anderson throws from a high arm slot and gets results despite not having a "wow” pitch in his repertoire. He pitches at 93 mph and tops out in the mid-90s with a fastball featuring riding life up in the zone to miss bats. Anderson changes eye levels with a pair of above-average secondaries. His mid-70s curveball plays because he locates it, but he doesn’t seem to trust his changeup to the same degree. While Anderson already has a firm understanding of the value of location and sequencing at a young age, mastering his changeup would open the bottom of the strike zone.
• 
  Ranked Florida State League #9 prospect in 2018
  Anderson, the No. 3 overall pick in 2016, started the year as the youngest pitcher in the FSL. He finished the year with four strong starts at Double-A Mississippi, including a 10-punchout game to close his season. Anderson fronts his arsenal with a fastball that sits in the low-to-mid-90s and has touched as high as 97 mph. He backs it up with a tight-breaking curveball in the mid-70s. Anderson also throws a changeup in the 86-88 mph range, but it's a clear third pitch at this point. He showed more feel for his changeup as he got deeper into the season. Some evaluators were concerned with Anderson's fastball command and also wanted to see him use his curveball as chase pitch out of the zone more often. A large part of the Braves' rebuild has been predicated on high-end starting pitchers, and Anderson should push his way into the mix late in 2019.
• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #6 prospect in 2017
  The third pick in the 2016 draft cruised through Sally League lineups regularly, but you won't find his name anywhere among the league's pitching leaders. Coming off a 2016 season where he threw few innings because he's from a cold-weather state (New York), the Braves kept a very close watch on Anderson's innings–he threw only 21.2 innings from July 1 until the season's end. But when he did pitch, Anderson often dominated with a 92-95 mph fastball and a plus curveball as well as an improved changeup that now flashes average. Anderson changes a batter's eye level regularly as he works up in the zone with four-seam fastballs then buries a big-breaking curve. Anderson's changeup is less developed, but it did flash as average at its best, which is a step forward from last year.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #8 prospect in 2021
• Ranked Baseball America's #44 prospect in 2020
• Ranked Baseball America's #24 prospect in 2019
• Ranked Baseball America's #42 prospect in 2018
• Ranked Baseball America's #66 prospect in 2017

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Changeup: 60. Control: 60.
  Track Record: Anderson quickly ascended the minors after being drafted third overall in 2016 and made a tremendous impact in his big league debut. Called up after the Braves’ rotation was eviscerated by injuries, Anderson was one of the game’s best pitchers in September and October. He allowed two earned runs in 18.2 innings. opening with three consecutive scoreless outings and starting Game 7 of the NLCS.
  
  Scouting Report: Anderson does a tremendous job limiting hard contact and generating whiffs with his three-pitch mix. His fastball sits around 94 mph and gives hitters a unique look with low spin rates and more drop than a typical fastball. That pairs wonderfully with an 86-88 mph changeup that generated a 40% whiff rate in his debut. It has less movement than typical changeups, but plays well because he sells it out of his overhand arm slot. Anderson’s confidence and ability to throw it for strikes makes his changeup a plus offering. His curveball is his third pitch, but it is enough of a different look to keep hitters off-balance. While no single pitch is a true wipeout, his ability to tunnel them and command the ball makes his arsenal deadly, especially with his ability to consistently change hitters’ eye levels.
  
  The Future: Anderson has solidified his place as the Braves’ No. 3 starter. The development of his breaking ball will determine if he becomes more.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Changeup: 60. Control: 60.
  Track Record: Anderson quickly ascended the minors after being drafted third overall in 2016 and made a tremendous impact in his big league debut. Called up after the Braves’ rotation was eviscerated by injuries, Anderson was one of the game’s best pitchers in September and October. He allowed two earned runs in 18.2 innings. opening with three consecutive scoreless outings and starting Game 7 of the NLCS.
  
  Scouting Report: Anderson does a tremendous job limiting hard contact and generating whiffs with his three-pitch mix. His fastball sits around 94 mph and gives hitters a unique look with low spin rates and more drop than a typical fastball. That pairs wonderfully with an 86-88 mph changeup that generated a 40% whiff rate in his debut. It has less movement than typical changeups, but plays well because he sells it out of his overhand arm slot. Anderson’s confidence and ability to throw it for strikes makes his changeup a plus offering. His curveball is his third pitch, but it is enough of a different look to keep hitters off-balance. While no single pitch is a true wipeout, his ability to tunnel them and command the ball makes his arsenal deadly, especially with his ability to consistently change hitters’ eye levels.
  
  The Future: Anderson has solidified his place as the Braves’ No. 3 starter. The development of his breaking ball will determine if he becomes more.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Anderson continued to dominate Double-A batters over 21 starts and ranked third in the Southern League with 147 strikeouts before earning a promotion to Triple-A Gwinnett.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Anderson’s stuff wasn’t quite as electric in 2019 as he’s shown in the past. While he’s previously thrown a fastball in the 92-97 mph range, the pitch didn’t have that sort of top-end velocity this season, sitting mostly in the 92-94 range. It’s still a plus offering thanks to the angle that Anderson creates out of an overhand arm slot, and he’s been effective with it pitching both up and down in the zone. Similarly, Anderson’s 12-to-6 curveball hasn’t shown the bite he’s had in the past. It’s more of a 55-grade offering he has learned to spot more consistently, but he struggles at times to get hitters to chase it out of the zone. Anderson also has a firm, mid-to-upper 80s changeup that he’s shown feel for and it projects as an above-average pitch. Outside of his five-game stint in Triple-A, Anderson showed improved feel for throwing strikes and projects for above-average control despite stiffness in his delivery.
  
  THE FUTURE: Anderson should start 2020 in Gwinnett and projects as more of a middle-of-the-rotation arm.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Braves made Anderson the third overall pick in 2016 and signed him for $4 million to forgo a Vanderbilt commitment. After steadily filling out his lanky frame and cruising through the lower levels, Anderson went 8-7, 3.38 at Double-A and Triple-A in 2019 and finished fourth in the minor leagues with 172 strikeouts.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Anderson's fastball sits 92-94 mph and has touched 96-97 in the past, although he didn't show that top-end velocity much last season. It's still a plus offering thanks to the angle he creates out of an overhand arm slot, and he's been effective pitching both up and down in the zone with his fastball. Anderson's 12-to-6 curveball is an above-average offering he has learned to spot more consistently, but he struggles at times to get hitters to chase it out of the zone. He also has a firm, mid-to-upper 80s changeup he's shown feel for and that projects to be an above-average pitch. Outside of his five-game stint in Triple-A, Anderson showed improved feel for throwing strikes and projects for above-average control despite some stiffness in his delivery.
  
  THE FUTURE: Anderson should start 2020 back at Triple-A Gwinnett. He projects as a future a middle-of-the-rotation starter and is in line to make his major league debut in 2020.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  The No. 3 overall pick in 2016, Anderson spent the bulk of 2019 in the Southern League and led the circuit with 147 strikeouts at the time he was promoted to Triple-A in August. He finished fourth overall in the minors with 172 punchouts. Anderson throws from a high arm slot and gets results despite not having a "wow” pitch in his repertoire. He pitches at 93 mph and tops out in the mid-90s with a fastball featuring riding life up in the zone to miss bats. Anderson changes eye levels with a pair of above-average secondaries. His mid-70s curveball plays because he locates it, but he doesn’t seem to trust his changeup to the same degree. While Anderson already has a firm understanding of the value of location and sequencing at a young age, mastering his changeup would open the bottom of the strike zone.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  After an excellent 2017 season, Anderson has been even better in 2018. His steadily-improving changeup gives him the potential for three plus pitches, and he has made minor strides with his control. However, control and command are Anderson’s biggest items on the to-do list. He sits 92-94 mph and can touch higher, and pairs it with a plus curveball. Anderson is one of several Braves prospects with No. 2 or 3 starter potential.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Anderson was a victim of his own success in 2017. His efficiency in the first half meant he bumped up against his innings limit earlier than expected. Worried about overtaxing a cold-weather arm in his first full season, the Braves slammed the brakes on Anderson's pitch limits, holding him to just 17.2 innings in the final two months. SCOUTING REPORT: The Braves' initial point of emphasis with young pitchers is to teach them to throw a quality changeup. Anderson embraced the pitch, developing it from afterthought to a pitch that flashes above-average in the span of a year. The improved change gives him a chance to end up with three above-average pitches. His 91-95 mph fastball touches 97, and he gets downhill thanks to his over-the-top delivery. As he worked on his change, Anderson relied less on his plus curveball with 12-to-6 action. Scouts believe Anderson has advanced control and command for his age, despite his walk rate of 4.7 per nine innings. THE FUTURE: Anderson projects as a future No. 2 or 3 starter, though he has to prove his durability and consistency. He will jump to high Class A Florida in 2018.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Anderson attracted attention in the Metropolitan Baseball Classic prior to his junior year and began to take off when he pitched against 2015 first-round pick Garrett Whitley the following spring. Despite battling pneumonia and a minor injury during his senior year, Anderson ranked high on the Braves' 2016 draft board from the outset, and Atlanta drafted the lanky, projectable righthander third overall and signed him for a below-slot $4 million. Scouting Report: Anderson possesses the classic combination of current ability with the potential to become even better with experience and physical development. A cerebral pitcher who was a Vanderbilt commit, he has impressed with his calm, mature approach and ability to dissect the strike zone with his impressive command and ability to work both sides of the plate. He throws all three of his pitches from the same release point, which makes them difficult for hitters to decipher. His fastball sits at 92-94 mph and has touched 97. He also throws a late-breaking curveball, with above-average potential and 10-to-4 shape at 79-81 mph and a plus changeup in the mid-80s.
  
  The Future: After spending his pro debut at Atlanta's two Rookie-level affiliates, Anderson will open 2017 at low Class A Rome, where he can expect to spend the entire campaign. From there he has the ability to move quickly as he develops into a mid-rotation starter at the big league level.