Drew Anderson Back On Track

PHILADELPHIA—As Phillies officials watched Drew Anderson pitch at low Class A Lakewood early in the 2014 season, they couldn’t help but get excited.

“His fastball velocity jumped a full grade from 90-92 (mph) to 93-95 (mph),” farm director Joe Jordan said. “It was just a matter of physical maturity, his body getting stronger, and we were really excited.”

Anderson did not make it through the season, however. He suffered an elbow injury that eventually required Tommy John surgery and missed all of the 2015 season.

Anderson came back strong in 2016, so strong that the 22-year-old righthander, a 21st-round draft pick in 2012, earned a spot on the 40-man roster in November.

“To some it might have seemed like, ‘Wow, you’re going to protect this guy?’ But to the people inside, the people that know our system, he was clearly a guy that was worthy of it and he had a lot of support,” Jordan said. “We’ve always liked him. We just lost him for a year basically. This year it was just baby steps, kid gloves, get him going and see what it looks like. Well, his stuff came back and he just needed mound time.

“If you package everything together, his fastball, his breaking ball and the projection we have on his changeup, you can match him up with about anyone we have. He’s an exciting young pitcher.”

Anderson had a 2.70 ERA in 15 starts between low and high A in 2016. He had a 1.93 ERA in eight starts in the Florida State League and struck out 10.2 batters per nine innings while allowing just 26 hits, 10 walks and no homers in 32.2 innings.

Anderson is 6-foot-3, 200 pounds. He is a product of Galena High in Reno, Nev.

“Our guys did a terrific job of scouting,” Jordan said. “Drew has a pitcher’s body and a lot of good intangibles. He loves to compete.

“In a perfect world, he’ll start the year at (Double-A) Reading and build off what he did last year and see where it goes.”

PHIL-UPS

•The Phillies added 11 young players to their 40-man roster. No team added more.

•Shawn Williams will move up from low Class A Lakewood and manage high Class A Clearwater in 2017. Marty Malloy comes over from the Astros organization to manage the Lakewood club.