Brian Anderson (third baseman)


Brian Wade Anderson is an American professional baseball third baseman and right fielder for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball. He made his MLB debut in 2017.

Career

Anderson attended Deer Creek High School in Edmond, Oklahoma and was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 20th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft. He did not sign with the Twins and enrolled at the University of Arkansas, where he played college baseball for the Arkansas Razorbacks. In 2013, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball League.
After his junior year, the Miami Marlins selected Anderson in the third round of the 2014 MLB draft. Anderson made his professional debut with the Batavia Muckdogs of the Class A-Short Season New York-Penn League and was promoted to the Greensboro Grasshoppers of the Class A South Atlantic League after 20 games. In 59 total games between the two teams, he slashed.300/.363/.496 with 11 home runs and 49 RBIs. In 2015, he played for the Jupiter Hammerheads of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League where he batted.235 with eight home runs and 62 RBIs in 132 games. After the regular season, he played in the Arizona Fall League. In 2016, he played for both Jupiter and the Jacksonville Suns of the Class AA Southern League where he compiled a combined.265 batting average with 11 home runs, 65 RBIs, and 21 doubles in 135 games between the two teams. He was named the Marlins Minor League Player of the Year. He played in the Arizona Fall League after the season for the second consecutive year. Anderson spent 2017 with both Jacksonville and the New Orleans Baby Cakes of the Class AAA International League, batting.275 with 22 home runs, 81 RBIs, and an.853 OPS in 120 games.
The Marlins promoted Anderson to the major leagues from New Orleans on September 1, 2017, and he made his major league debut that day.
2018
Anderson started the 2018 season with the Marlins at third base. He hit his first career home run on April 2, 2018, off Boston Red Sox pitcher Brian Johnson at Marlins Park.
Anderson led all Marlins players in games played, plate appearances and runs scored.
2019
During his second full major league season, Anderson set career highs in home runs, runs batted in and OPS. He also performed well defensively, totaling nine outfield assists in only 55 appearances in right field.
On August 23, Anderson fractured his left fifth metacarpal when he was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the third inning. The injury did not require surgery, but ended his season prematurely.