Today: ATL Prospect Josh Anderson
Josh Anderson is the 'old man' among Atlanta's rich field of prospect outfielders. Acquired in the 2008 pre-season as a stopgap between the departing Andruw Jones and the not-yet-ready Gorkys Hernandez and Jordan Schafer, Anderson is a strong contact hitter and capable player in his own right. He could last in Atlanta for many years beyond his fill-in value.
Anderson led all minor leaguers in 2004 with 78 steals and worked as one of the minors' best hitters for many consecutive years. Despite a .358 average last September, the Astros didn't seem convinced of Anderson's offensive abilities, and let him go to the Braves quite cheaply. He's not as fast as he was as a 22 year old, but he's still got legitimate base-stealing wheels.
At the plate, Anderson is a contact hitter who can turn infield dribblers into singles and slow-rolling singles into doubles. He's a smart baserunner whether stealing bases or not, and won't run into many outs. He lacks real power, and there are questions about whether he can handle high-quality breaking stuff, but he's a solid player who should be able to contribute in an OBP-centric offense.
In the field, Anderson's speed helps him compensate for some odd routes, giving him a net-average rating as a centerfielder. His arm is good enough for center, though probably too weak for right field.
Anderson should be able to contribute to the Braves in 2008 and 2009. Whether he develops beyond average MLB outfielder or not will depend on his still-shallow power stroke and whether he can leverage his speed to good offensive effect.
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