NORTH PORT, Fla. – Ian Anderson made his first spring start Friday, pitching three innings against the Red Sox at CoolToday Park. It officially began another campaign for the young-but-accomplished Anderson.
The 23-year-old’s resume: He outpitched Yankees ace Gerrit Cole in his MLB debut. He didn’t allow a run over his first three postseason starts. He started a Game 7 of the National League Championship Series. He started a division-clinching victory. He started an NL pennant-clinching victory. He held the Astros hitless over five innings in the World Series.
“He’s been through a lot in a young career, a whole lot,” manger Brian Snitker said. “If anybody can handle it, it’s a kid like that who’s so grounded and has the ability to slow the game down. He has weapons, it’s just refining everything.”
Anderson had a 3.58 ERA and 124:53 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 2021, his first full season. He made 24 starts, losing a sizable amount of time because of right-shoulder inflammation. Despite his success, Anderson hasn’t come close to reaching his theoretical peak.
Perhaps he shows even more in 2022. That would go a long way for a Braves rotation that’s yet to be sorted out. Anderson, Max Fried and Charlie Morton are a reliable top three, but the team doesn’t have any rotation certainties beyond them. They need the top trio to stay healthy.
Anderson’s exhibition season began swimmingly. He held Boston to two hits over his three frames, striking out four and walking one. He has two more outings before the regular season. He plans to cover four and five innings, respectively, in his remaining tune-ups.
“I’ve been talking with the coaches, I just want to work on – I feel like I’ve been getting ahead 0-2, 1-2, just closing that gap quicker,” Anderson said. “Just getting those guys out quicker. For the most part, I feel like my stuff was good, curveball was good.”
Braves notes:
- Closer Kenley Jansen, the long-time Dodger who joined the Braves a week ago, pitched for the first time this spring Friday. He retired the first two via flyouts before issuing a walk and seeing that runner score on right fielder Eddie Rosario’s error. Jansen finished by getting outfielder Jarren Duran to ground out to first. Jansen, 34, made an already deep bullpen even more potent. He had a 2.22 ERA with 38 saves in 69 games for the Dodgers last season.
- Veteran right-hander Tyler Thornburg pitched the fourth, collecting a strikeout in a clean frame. Thornburg, 33, has been derailed by injuries in recent years but once was one of the sport’s better relievers. The Braves took a flier on Thornburg, a no-risk moderate-upside opportunity.
“That was good stuff,” Snitker said. “That’s what we wanted to see. He showed enough in the workout to get us to sign him. It’s just a matter of getting him out there and putting our eyes on him.”
- Snitker, asked about his variable lineup options, expressed excitement at the different possibilities.
“It’s going to be a lineup where we can try to get the matchups we want,” Snitker said. “And not make it easy on the opposition. I don’t know what that is yet. We’re still going through certain scenarios. It’s versatile. In a DH world, it’s not so important as far as the prototypical leadoff guy, second guy, things like that. In this format, it gives us a pretty deep lineup.”
Friday’s batting order is one fans might see when the regular season begins. It featured right fielder Eddie Rosario at leadoff and first baseman Matt Olson hitting second. They were followed by third baseman Austin Riley, left fielder Marcell Ozuna, designated hitter Alex Dickerson, second baseman Ozzie Albies, center fielder Adam Duvall, catcher Travis d’Arnaud and shortstop Dansby Swanson.
