Tyler Anderson

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Colorado Rockies #16 prospect in 2015
  Health has become a major concern with Anderson, who won Texas League pitcher of the year honors at Double-A Tulsa in 2014 after leading the circuit in ERA (1.98), opponent average (.216) and WHIP (1.11). He left a Sept. 10 playoff start after three innings, however, and doctors found a stress fracture in his left elbow, the same injury that caused him to be scratched from the Arizona Fall League in 2013. Anderson dealt with a sports hernia in 2012 and also missed nine weeks in 2013 with shoulder soreness. He missed two May starts last year with elbow soreness but otherwise was healthy until September. Anderson is analytical, extremely competitive and has a good feel for pitching as well as a deceptive delivery. He challenges hitters on the inner half and pitches to both sides of the plate with an 89-90 mph fastball that will reach 93. He has added an 86-89 mph cutter that has become his best secondary pitch, followed by a changeup that has average depth. He also has a curveball that he uses sparingly. If healthy, he should begin 2015 at Triple-A Albuquerque and projects as a back-end starter.
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  Ranked Colorado Rockies #11 prospect in 2014
  Injuries have become a growing concern with Anderson, who signed for $1.4 million as the 20th overall pick in the 2011 draft. He coped with a sports hernia while having a successful season at low Class A Asheville in 2012 and missed nine weeks at high Class A Modesto in 2013 due to shoulder soreness, finishing with 90 innings. Anderson returned in August and was scheduled to pitch in the Arizona Fall League but was scratched because of a stress fracture in his left elbow that may put him behind in 2014. Anderson pitches at 89-90 mph with his fastball and tops out at 93. Some scouts consider his average 86-87 mph cutter his best secondary pitch, one he uses to get in on righthanders, but he tends to throw it too often. Others prefer his changeup, which can flash plus with fade and sink. His 76-77 mph curveball is more fringy. Anderson's anything-but-fluid delivery features a leg kick and slight pause, but his mechanics help him hide the ball. Despite not having a pitch that stands out, his command and deception enhance his repertoire. Anderson is more effective against righthanded hitters (.649 OPS) than lefthanded hitters (.805), so he profiles better as a starter than a relief lefty. When he's ready, he'll pitch at Double-A Tulsa in 2014. He projects as a No. 5 starter.
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  Ranked Colorado Rockies #7 prospect in 2013
  The 20th overall pick in the 2011 draft, Anderson signed for $1.4 million at the deadline and made his pro debut in 2012. Despite pitching with a sports hernia, he led the South Atlantic League in ERA (2.13) and WHIP (1.06). He had surgery in September and will be ready for spring training. Anderson has no single pitch that stands out, but his command makes his whole repertoire better. He's smart and analytical, traits that will help him as he faces more advanced hitters. Anderson sits at 89-90 mph with a fastball that has good tilt to the plate. His best pitch is a plus changeup with good deception and fade, and he also throws a solid cutter and an average curveball that has more sweeping than downward action. He hides the ball well and is quick to the plate. Anderson profiles as a No. 4 starter, though as a lefty with fine pitchability, he might exceed that expectation. Now that he's fully healthy, he could move fast and possibly skip a level to open 2013 in Double-A.
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  Ranked Colorado Rockies #7 prospect in 2012
  Drafted in the 50th round by the Twins in 2008, Anderson opted to become part of the resuscitated baseball program at Oregon, where he set school records for strikeouts in a game (14), season (114) and career (285). The Rockies drafted him 20th overall last June, making him the third lefthander they selected in the first round in the last four drafts, following Christian Friedrich (2008) and Tyler Matzek (2009). Anderson signed for $1.4 million at the Aug. 15 deadline, too late to pitch in the minors, and threw just one bullpen session in instructional league before getting shut down with pelvic soreness. Anderson isn't overpowering but succeeds by commanding a deep repertoire. His best pitch is a changeup. He also has two- and four-seam fastballs, which range form 89-93 mph and feature good life, and he throws two breaking balls, with his slider ranking ahead of his curveball. He fills the strike zone and creates deception with the backswing and leg kick in his delivery. The combination of his lefthandedness, stuff and command made Anderson one of the most big league-ready players in the 2011 draft. He may start his career in low Class A, but he may not need more than two years in the minors. He has the upside of a No. 3 starter.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Texas League #11 prospect in 2014
  Anderson thrived at Tulsa while making a career-high 23 starts. After missing much of last year with a shoulder injury, he earned TL pitcher of the year honors by topping the circuit in ERA (1.98), opponent average (.216) and WHIP (1.11). Anderson succeeded by commanding an arsenal of four average or better offerings. He pitches to both sides of the plate with an 89-91 mph fastball and is not afraid to challenge hitters on the inner half. He tops out at 94 mph but can't maintain that velocity as a starter. His best pitch is a changeup that batters struggle to identify coming out of his herky-jerky delivery and deceptive arm speed. "Visually, it becomes a dilemma for the hitter," Tulsa manager Kevin Riggs said of Anderson's changeup. "And then when you mix in the arm speed, they're seeing fastball and it's just not getting there." Anderson added an upper-80s cutter and an improved curveball that was particularly effective against lefthanders. He is a hard worker who takes his pregame preparation and video study seriously.

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: A 50th-round pick out of high school, Anderson headed to Oregon after the school's 29-year hiatus and stepped right into the rotation as a freshman. As a junior, he became Oregon's all-time strikeout leader and was the Ducks' highest-pick since 1980. The 20th overall pick in the 2011 draft, Anderson signed for $1.4 million at the deadline and made his pro debut in 2012. Despite pitching with a sports hernia, he led the South Atlantic League in ERA (2.13) and WHIP (1.06). He had surgery in September and will be ready for spring training. Scouting Report: Anderson has no single pitch that stands out, but his command makes his whole repertoire better. He's smart and analytical, traits that will help him as he faces more advanced hitters. Anderson sits at 89-90 mph with a fastball that has good tilt to the plate. His best pitch is a plus changeup with good deception and fade, and he also throws a solid cutter and an average curveball that has more sweeping than downward action. He hides the ball well and is quick to the plate. The Future: Anderson profiles as a No. 4 starter, though as a lefty with fine pitchabilty, he might exceed that expectation. Now that he's fully healthy, he could move fast and possibly skip a level to open 2013 in Double-A.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Drafted in the 50th round by the Twins in 2008, Anderson opted to become part of the resuscitated baseball program at Oregon, where he set school records for strikeouts in a game (14), season (114) and career (285). The Rockies drafted him 20th overall last June, making him the third lefthander they selected in the first round in the last four drafts, following Christian Friedrich (2008) and Tyler Matzek (2009). Anderson signed him for $1.4 million at the Aug. 15 deadline, too late to pitch in the minors, and threw just one bullpen session in instructional league before getting shut down with pelvic soreness. Scouting Report: Anderson isn't overpowering but succeeds by commanding a deep repertoire. His best pitch is a changeup. He also has two- and four-seam fastballs, which range form 89-93 mph and feature good life, and he throws two breaking balls, with his slider ranking ahead of his curveball. He fills the strike zone and creates deception with the backswing and leg kick in his delivery. The Future: The combination of his lefthandedness, stuff and command made Anderson one of the most big league-ready players in the 2011 draft. He may start his career in low Class A, but he may not need more than two years in the minors. He has the upside of a No. 3 starter.