Matt Anderson couldn't wait to turn pro, saw six seasons

Matt Anderson signed with the Orioles and the new high school graduate was ready to go.

He was ready to go to Bluefield, Virginia, home of the rookie league Bluefield Orioles. He was looking to move right into the Bluefield starting rotation, The Los Angeles Times wrote.

"I can't wait. I'm really excited," Anderson told The Times in June 1989. "I need to get out and get a chance to grow up."

While Anderson got his chance to grow up, in a career that lasted six seasons and was spotted by injury, Anderson never got his chance to pitch in the major leagues.

Anderson's career started that year in 1989, taken by the Orioles in the fifth round of the draft, out of Buena High School in California. The left-hander chose the Orioles over Cal State Northridge.

At Bluefield that first year, though, Anderson got off to a slow start. He started only five games, getting into nine others. He picked up four losses to no wins, and an ERA of 8.66.

Anderson spent 1990 between Bluefield and single-A Wausau. At Wausau, Anderson went 1-3 with a 4.43 ERA. Back at Bluefield, Anderson went 6-4, with a better 2.60 ERA.

For 1991, Anderson moved with Wausau to Kane County, going 13-8. The Chicago Tribune noted Anderson's strikeout to walk ratio in June, 70-26. He had 166 strikeouts by the end of the year.

Anderson spent 1992 at high-A Frederick. He went 7-7 in 18 starts, with a 4.36 ERA. He got most of those appearances by early July. Then, teammate Gregg Zaun praised the pitcher to The Times, saying he was "capable of being the best pitcher in the league."

"Matt's been making some mechanical adjustments this season," Zaun told The Times. "It doesn't always click right away when you try some new things, but he's battled."

Arm problems limited his 1993 season to just three games, in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He returned in 1994, at single-A Albany, moving mid-year back to Frederick.

Anderson went 10-6 on the year, with 101 strikeouts in 108.2 innings. It was Anderson's final year as a pro.

Originally published Oct. 8, 2011

• Los Angeles Times, June 15, 1989: Anderson Excelled in Dual Role for Buena
• Los Angeles Times, July 5, 1992: Zaun Unafraid to Experiment in an Effort to Halt Slump

More: The 1990 Wausau Timbers

1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured: 2,251
Made the Majors: 944-41.9%
Never Made Majors:1,307-58.1%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 395
10+ Seasons in the Minors:238