Scott Anderson had a solid spring. In three starts, he gave up four hits, struck out five and walked one. His latest start this spring went four shutout innings."Anderson has been very impressive in games and working on the sidelines," Royals Manager Bob Boone told The Associated Press. Boone had seen Anderson pitch in AAA. "If he's healthy, he'll be a quality pitcher in this league."
It was high praise for a pitcher. It was also March 14, 1995, the strike year. Anderson was making a bid to return to the majors for the first time since 1990. He pitched in four games for the Expos that year, 1990. That was after pitching eight games for the Rangers in 1987.
Outside those 12 games, the rest of Anderson's nine-year professional career had been spent in the minors.
Anderson was taken by the Rangers in the seventh round of the 1984 draft. He made AA Tulsa in 1985 and AAA Oklahoma City in 1986. By 1987, Anderson was being counted among the Rangers' possible youthful additions.
He did make the club that year, but it was a brief stay. Anderson posted a 9.53 ERA in those eight starts. He took his one loss in the 12th inning of an April 12 game. He walked the bases loaded, then gave up a two-run single.
Anderson spent the rest of 1987 at AAA, where he stayed through 1990. He was traded in between to the Expos. He made his first major league start Sept. 16, 1990, against the Pirates, going five innings and giving up one hit.
By the time spring training 1995 came around, Anderson had spent two years in Japan, 1991 and 1992. He returned stateside in 1993, playing AAA ball for the Marlins, he did the same the next year in Milwaukee's system.
With the strike still ongoing, Anderson believed his health would hold out. He had had elbow surgery the previous July. "So far, so good," he told the AP. "As far as pitching opening day, it's too early to look that far ahead."
The strike, of course would end by opening day. Anderson, however, stayed on, again at AAA. He still impressed enough for a July call-up. In his first outing, July 30, Anderson put up his first major league win. It would be his only win. His final game was Aug. 26.
- Lawrence Journal-World, Associated Press, March 15, 1995: KC wastes Anderson's effort
Cards Reviewed: 90/880 - 10.2%
Made the Majors: 55 - 61%
Never Made the Majors: 35 - 39%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 19
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 32
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