Brian Anderson
Free Agent — No. --
Outfielder
Born: March 11, 1982 (1982-03-11) (age 27) Tucson, Arizona
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 16, 2005 for the Chicago White Sox
Career statistics (through 2009 season)
Batting average	.227
Home runs	22
Runs batted in	80
Teams
Chicago White Sox (2005-2009) Boston Red Sox (2009)

Brian Nikola Anderson (born March 11, 1982, in Tucson, Arizona) is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently a Free Agent. Anderson is a graduate of the University of Arizona and Canyon del Oro High School in Oro Valley, Arizona, a suburb of Tucson. All Star second baseman Ian Kinsler of the Texas Rangers was his best friend and teammate in high school.^[1]

Anderson was named the top pro prospect in Arizona and ranked number 27th in the nation by Baseball America. He was named to the Baseball America and USA Today Second-Team All-America team as a junior.

[edit] Major league career

Anderson, sometimes called "BA" by fans, made his debut on August 16, 2005, and appeared in 13 games for the 2005 White Sox. That offseason, Chicago traded Aaron Rowand to the Philadelphia Phillies in a deal that brought Jim Thome to Chicago, clearing the way for Anderson to become the starting center-fielder for the White Sox. In 2006 Anderson showed himself to be a gifted defensive outfielder, though he struggled offensively, finishing with a .225 batting average despite signs of improvement in the second half of the season and some corrections in his swing mechanics.^[2] Anderson did not commit an error at the Major League level until August 18, 2006 against the Minnesota Twins, ending his streak of 110 errorless games. On May 20, 2006, Brian was ejected from an interleague game against the Chicago Cubs for fighting with Cubs first baseman John Mabry. Mabry had X-rays taken on his ribs, but did not miss any games due to injury. Anderson was fined and served a five game suspension.

Anderson lost his starting job to Darin Erstad in 2007, and after only 17 at bats was sent down to the White Sox' AAA affiliate, the Charlotte Knights.^[3] At Charlotte, Anderson hit for a .255 average before his season ended with an injury, a disappointment in contrast to his 2005 season in which he hit .295. He eventually earned a spot back on the major-league roster in 2008 as a backup outfielder after a superb spring training changed the organization's negative perceptions of his effort.^[4]

Anderson again made the major-league roster in 2009 as a backup outfielder, with Dewayne Wise starting in center field.^[5] However, Anderson retrieved the starting job after Wise was injured in April,^[6] and has been starting in center field even since Wise's return. Currently, Anderson has not been hitting well,^[7] although Wise has been hitting even worse.^[8]

Starting in the 2007 season, Anderson gave up his previous uniform number 44 to veteran catcher Toby Hall who had recently joined the team. Anderson then wore White Sox number 32 in honor of Magic Johnson, whom he idolizes as a basketball player.

On July 28, 2009, Anderson was traded to the Boston Red Sox for Mark Kotsay and cash considerations. He got his first hit as a member of the Red Sox against the Rangers and hit his first homer in Baltimore.

On December 12, 2009, Anderson was non-tendered by the Red Sox.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)