Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson has been a steady contributor for a long time.
However, it often feels like he doesn’t quite get the recognition he deserves.
His player profile is not exactly like some of the game’s current stars, but he makes it work and is consistently great.
Anderson has power, but not 35-homer power.
He has speed, but not 35-steals speed.
He does have a sweet, compact swing that allows him to hit .300 and not be a liability at the plate.
TA7 is proving he's one of the best in the game. pic.twitter.com/lBpl7LMT30
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) February 2, 2023
In fact, Anderson has hit .300 or higher in the last four seasons.
He has the highest batting average for a shortstop in the American League since 2019, at .318.
Some players fail to clear .318 with their OPS.
Yes, batting average is not as helpful as other offensive stats, but let’s use OPS, then, to measure Anderson’s hitting talent.
Since 2019, his .820 OPS ranks fourth in the junior circuit among shortstops.
He has some power, but his contact ability is what sets him apart.
From 2017 to 2019, however, he homered 55 times and stole 58 bags.
Injuries have affected him a lot since then, especially last season.
In 2022, Anderson slashed .301/.339/.395 in 351 trips to the plate, with just six home runs.
He did steal 13 bases, but his power output was a bit disappointing.
Even with the power outage, however, he was able to post above-average offensive numbers.
According to wRC+, he was 10 percent better than the league average hitter.
With a full, healthy season, he could return to being a .300 hitter with 20-homer power and 20-steals speed.
NEXT: White Sox Fan Wants Team To Pivot After Mike Clevinger Controversy
quit acting like a prima donna and play the game. quit catching the ball on the sides and quit throwing sidearm to first base.