Matt Anderson
Encyclopedia
Matthew Jason Anderson (born August 17, 1976 in Louisville, Kentucky
) is a Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
who is currently a free agent.
, Chris Burke
, and Jack Savage
. After high school, he went on to Rice University
. In , he was a Southwest Conference All-Star
. In he was a Western Athletic Conference
All-Star and a First Team College All-American. Anderson set Rice University school records for career wins
(30) and saves (14), and he also posted a 1.82 ERA
during his final year with the Owls. In the 1997 amateur entry draft, Anderson was picked first overall by the Detroit Tigers
. He eventually signed with the team for a $2.5 million signing bonus.
.
In 1998, he was called up by the Tigers from the minors, where he had an ERA under 0.70. In his first major league season, he went 5–1 with a 3.27 ERA in 42 games. He also struck out
44 batters in 44 innings pitched.
In May, 2002, Anderson tore a muscle in the armpit of his throwing arm. After returning from the injury, he was unable to hit 90 mph on his fastball
in his remaining days in Detroit, after regularly topping 100 mph on the radar gun, including a high mark of 103 mph twice.
Since then, he has not posted an ERA under 4.72 in the Major Leagues, or 3.79 in the minors. In , he walked
11 batters and gave up 19 hits
in 10 innings
with the Colorado Rockies
.
He started off the season with Triple-A Fresno
in the San Francisco Giants
organization. After going 1–2 with a 9.17 ERA in 29 games in relief with Fresno, he was released by the Giants and signed with the Bridgeport Bluefish
of the independent Atlantic League
, where he went 1–1 with a 4.11 ERA in 15 games. http://www.rice.edu/projects/thresher/issues/85/970829/Sports/Story02.htm
After not pitching at all in , he was signed to a minor league contract with a non-roster invitation to spring training
for by the Chicago White Sox. Anderson did not make the team and pitched for the Charlotte Knights
, the White Sox's Triple-A team.
On January 14, 2011 Anderson signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies
. On April 2, 2011, he was released.
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
) is a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
who is currently a free agent.
Early life and college career
Anderson attended St. Xavier High School, which was also attended by major leaguers Paul ByrdPaul Byrd
Paul Gregory Byrd is an American professional baseball right-handed starting pitcher who is currently a free agent. He pitched in Major League Baseball from 1995 to 2009. He is known as being the "nicest guy in baseball"...
, Chris Burke
Chris Burke (baseball player)
Christopher Alan Burke is a Major League Baseball player who is currently a free agent. Burke is known for his versatility; he has played every position except pitcher and catcher.-College:...
, and Jack Savage
Jack Savage
John Joseph "Jack" Savage is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1987 and the Minnesota Twins in 1990. He was born on April 22, 1964 in Louisville, Kentucky. He attended St. Xavier High School in Louisville, and he went on to attend the University of...
. After high school, he went on to Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
. In , he was a Southwest Conference All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
. In he was a Western Athletic Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
All-Star and a First Team College All-American. Anderson set Rice University school records for career wins
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
(30) and saves (14), and he also posted a 1.82 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
during his final year with the Owls. In the 1997 amateur entry draft, Anderson was picked first overall by the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. He eventually signed with the team for a $2.5 million signing bonus.
Professional career
Anderson was named top prospect in the Cape Cod League in and was named the 24th best prospect in by Baseball AmericaBaseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
.
In 1998, he was called up by the Tigers from the minors, where he had an ERA under 0.70. In his first major league season, he went 5–1 with a 3.27 ERA in 42 games. He also struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
44 batters in 44 innings pitched.
In May, 2002, Anderson tore a muscle in the armpit of his throwing arm. After returning from the injury, he was unable to hit 90 mph on his fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
in his remaining days in Detroit, after regularly topping 100 mph on the radar gun, including a high mark of 103 mph twice.
Since then, he has not posted an ERA under 4.72 in the Major Leagues, or 3.79 in the minors. In , he walked
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
11 batters and gave up 19 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 10 innings
Innings
An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...
with the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
.
He started off the season with Triple-A Fresno
Fresno Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies are a minor league baseball team based in Fresno, California. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League , is the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club. The Grizzlies play in Chukchansi Park , located in downtown Fresno and built in 2002...
in the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
organization. After going 1–2 with a 9.17 ERA in 29 games in relief with Fresno, he was released by the Giants and signed with the Bridgeport Bluefish
Bridgeport Bluefish
The Bridgeport Bluefish is an American professional baseball team based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the independent Atlantic League
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
, where he went 1–1 with a 4.11 ERA in 15 games. http://www.rice.edu/projects/thresher/issues/85/970829/Sports/Story02.htm
After not pitching at all in , he was signed to a minor league contract with a non-roster invitation to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
for by the Chicago White Sox. Anderson did not make the team and pitched for the Charlotte Knights
Charlotte Knights
The Charlotte Knights are a minor league baseball team representing Charlotte, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox of the American League...
, the White Sox's Triple-A team.
On January 14, 2011 Anderson signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. On April 2, 2011, he was released.