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Lars Anderson arrives in Pawtucket |
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Saturday, 17 January 2009 |
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By BRENDAN MCGAIR Sports writer PAWTUCKET – It’s both a blessing and a curse, being brandied the top minor-league prospect in the organization by Baseball America. The honor recognizes what you’ve accomplished to date, but at the same time amps up the expectations moving forward.
Lars Anderson is the Red Sox farmhand who will wear the “Numero Uno” crown in 2009. The vibe he gave off at the Pawtucket Red Sox’ Hot Stove gathering suggests this California cool native isn’t about to fill up his head with all the plaudits he’s been receiving of late, a refreshing sign considering he is coming of age in a baseball-crazed market and there figures to be more acclaim on the way.
“All I can control is how I play and how I interact, that’s about it. People have expectations, but my expectation is to have fun,” said Anderson Friday at McCoy Stadium. “I don’t think too far ahead because that can lead to some issues, just trying to stay in the present moment and enjoy the time where I’m at.”
You could say Anderson is a different sort of Boston prospect, one Red Sox Nation hopes can fan the flames of losing out on the Mark Teixeira Sweepstakes to the Yankees. The Red Sox have done a good job in recent seasons churning out both pitchers (Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon) and position players (Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis) that have gone on to become primetime contributors at the big-league level.
The one glaring area where Boston has fallen somewhat short is grooming the next heart-of-the-order slugger who can anchor the lineup for years to come. The Red Sox are hedging their bets on Anderson to fit the bill in the not so distant future as somebody who can wallop shots over the Green Monster and hit for a high average.
“It’s definitely something we’ve felt that has been lacking over the last few years,” said Mike Hazen, Boston’s Director of Player Development. “We haven’t provided the big club with a lot power in terms of position players, and I know from our standpoint is that we’re constantly evaluating how we can do a better job.
“Lars does have that ability, I think, to be that person down the road,” continued Hazen.
Anderson’s height (6-foot-4) suggests the idea that his bat contains plenty of life. The organization’s choice for offensive player of the year in 2008, Anderson spilt time between Single-A Lancaster and Double-A Portland. Amongst Red Sox hopefuls he ranked third in batting (.317), clubbing 18 home runs. The left-hander displayed plate coverage, backed up by his .417 on-base percentage.
Asked what attributed to his banner season, Anderson revealed, “The thing I changed a lot was what my hands were doing. Are they quiet or is movement? Are they high or low? The base of my swing is usually consistent.”
Told about being a rarity in the Boston system, Anderson name dropped the sluggers that played in Pawtucket last season. The 21-year-old has obviously perused a boxscore or two since Anderson rattled off Jeff Bailey (25 homers), George Kottaras (22) and Chris Carter (24).
What separates Anderson from the aforementioned PawSox sluggers is that he’s being touted as the first drafted and developed power prospect under the surveillance of BoSox GM Theo Epstein. Anderson was taken in the 18th round (pick No. 553 overall) in 2006, a draft that has already churned out a budding superstar in Tampa Bay’s Evan Longoria.
“Power isn’t necessarily home runs. A gap shot that one-hops the fence, that’s power,” said Anderson. “Power can be you get jammed on the inside corner and you have the strength to get the ball over the shortstop’s head for a bloop hit.”
Anderson projects as a first baseman, where Kevin Youkilis, the current Boston incumbent, just signed a four-year, $40 million pact. In Baseball America’s 2008 Prospect Handbook, the publication forecasts what the Boston lineup might look like on Opening Day 2011. Anderson is listed at first base with Youkilis shuffling across the diamond to third.
While its fun to daydream, Anderson’s here and now is that he is a non-roster invitee to spring training next month. Hazen wouldn’t etch in stone where Anderson would start off the season (“Way too soon,” said Hazen). That’s fine, for Anderson’s mere presence at McCoy suggests it won’t be long before he’s taking his cuts at a new set of fences.
“We’re all working towards the goal (of becoming major leaguers), but that’s not the reality right now,” said Anderson. “I’m not going to get bent out of shape about whether I’m going to get called up or not. It’ll happen when it happens.”
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 21 January 2009 )
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