Chicago White Sox: Why Tim Anderson is the team’s biggest star
1. Production
The most obvious improvement for Anderson has been his on-field production, as the shortstop has taken big jumps in every offensive category.
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Anderson leads the American League with a .402 batting average, an incredible number that nobody should expect Anderson to maintain. Regardless, Anderson’s improvements in his approach at the plate, as well as in the outcome of his at-bats are inarguable and have been the deciding factor in his increased production at the plate.
Past batting average, Anderson is tied for the White Sox team lead with five home runs, has driven in 16, and leads all of Major League Baseball with ten stolen bases on the season. In addition to stealing ten bases, Anderson has yet to have been thrown out, holding a 100 percent success rate on the base paths.
Even though Anderson still makes the occasional dumb error, his defense is also clearly improved, as he seems much more comfortable making throws and picks at shortstop. Anderson has risen to the occasion in big defensive opportunities, making a pair of game-saving plays in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers on defense, before winning it with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth.
While Anderson will not live up to the numbers that he is on pace to reach, his offensive production has carried the load for the White Sox in the month of April, and we should expect to see continued improvement and adjustments from Anderson throughout the season.