Phils Sign Former First Overall Pick Matt Anderson
The Phillies added another major league veteran that could spend time with the IronPigs by signing Matt Anderson to a minor-league deal on Thursday. This is significant not just because of the fact that Anderson broke into the major leagues 13 years ago, but also because he is a living example of every hard-throwing pitcher’s worst nightmare. Selected as the first overall pick in 1997 by Detroit out of Rice University, Anderson made his major league debut the following season while he was just 21 years old. After a brief and dominant stint in the minors followed by an impressive debut season with the Tigers, the Owls then all-time career wins and saves leader failed to live up to his billing over the long term as injury and inconsistency derailed an extremely promising career.
When Anderson began his professional career in the minors (after signing for a reported $2.5 M) in 1998, he blew past hitters with a fastball that reportedly touched 103 MPH on several occasions. Having posted a combined 0.65 ERA in Single-A and Double-A, the Tigers were ready to unveil their prized young fire-baller in his first pro season. As a rookie with the Tigers, the Louisville native went 5-1 and posted a 3.27 ERA over the span of 42 games in 1998. However, it appeared that Anderson had reached a plateau as he failed to achieve the same level of success in subsequent seasons.
In 2002, Anderson suffered an extremely rare baseball injury; a torn muscle in his armpit that some believed to be the result of an octopus throwing competition prior to the NHL Conference Finals (the tossing of octopi onto the ice is apparently a tradition amongst Detroit Red Wings fans). Anderson and the Tigers denied that the octopus tossing incident had anything to do with the injury; but no matter the cause, Anderson would never pitch the same again. Upon the completion of the 2002 season, Anderson was 2-1 with a 9.00 ERA over 12 games. As a result, Anderson began 2003 with the Toledo Mud Hens (Triple-A) and failed to regain a permanent spot with the Tigers.
Following his seven seasons of moving between Detroit and Toledo, Anderson was granted free agency in 2004 and signed a minor-league deal with the Colorado Rockies. Despite a career reprieve at the Major League level, Anderson posted a 12.60 ERA in 12 games and then found himself out of affiliated baseball altogether. In 2006, Anderson spent time with the Bridgeport Bluefish of the independent Atlantic League. Later that season, Anderson retuned to affiliated baseball by joining up with the Fresno Grizzlies, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. His 9.17 ERA in 26 games indicated that a comeback was still far out of reach, and in 2007 Anderson did not play baseball.
Anderson returned to affiliated baseball the following season with the Charlotte Knights, where he posted a 5.16 ERA over 17 innings pitched during the 2008 season.
Having not played in 2009, Anderson -- now 34 years of age -- is being granted what could possibly be his last chance by the Phillies. If he is able to regain any of his form that he displayed years ago, it would certainly be the most exciting comeback story written in the confines of Coca-Cola Park.
When Anderson began his professional career in the minors (after signing for a reported $2.5 M) in 1998, he blew past hitters with a fastball that reportedly touched 103 MPH on several occasions. Having posted a combined 0.65 ERA in Single-A and Double-A, the Tigers were ready to unveil their prized young fire-baller in his first pro season. As a rookie with the Tigers, the Louisville native went 5-1 and posted a 3.27 ERA over the span of 42 games in 1998. However, it appeared that Anderson had reached a plateau as he failed to achieve the same level of success in subsequent seasons.
In 2002, Anderson suffered an extremely rare baseball injury; a torn muscle in his armpit that some believed to be the result of an octopus throwing competition prior to the NHL Conference Finals (the tossing of octopi onto the ice is apparently a tradition amongst Detroit Red Wings fans). Anderson and the Tigers denied that the octopus tossing incident had anything to do with the injury; but no matter the cause, Anderson would never pitch the same again. Upon the completion of the 2002 season, Anderson was 2-1 with a 9.00 ERA over 12 games. As a result, Anderson began 2003 with the Toledo Mud Hens (Triple-A) and failed to regain a permanent spot with the Tigers.
Following his seven seasons of moving between Detroit and Toledo, Anderson was granted free agency in 2004 and signed a minor-league deal with the Colorado Rockies. Despite a career reprieve at the Major League level, Anderson posted a 12.60 ERA in 12 games and then found himself out of affiliated baseball altogether. In 2006, Anderson spent time with the Bridgeport Bluefish of the independent Atlantic League. Later that season, Anderson retuned to affiliated baseball by joining up with the Fresno Grizzlies, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. His 9.17 ERA in 26 games indicated that a comeback was still far out of reach, and in 2007 Anderson did not play baseball.
Anderson returned to affiliated baseball the following season with the Charlotte Knights, where he posted a 5.16 ERA over 17 innings pitched during the 2008 season.
Having not played in 2009, Anderson -- now 34 years of age -- is being granted what could possibly be his last chance by the Phillies. If he is able to regain any of his form that he displayed years ago, it would certainly be the most exciting comeback story written in the confines of Coca-Cola Park.