A look at how Lakeshore Chinook alumni performed throughout baseball in 2017!
Brian Anderson – Lakeshore Chinooks 2012
Miami Marlins
Grafton, WI- After three seasons of being listed as a top prospect for the Miami Marlins, Brian Anderson became the fourth former Chinook of the summer to break through to the major leagues as the Marlins included the hot-hitting third baseman in their September call-ups on September 7. A member of Lakeshore’s initial squad in 2012, the former Arkansas Razorback infielder and Miami’s 3rd round pick in 2014 finally got his shot at third base for the big league club.
Like fellow Chinook alums Harrison Bader and Andrew Stevenson, Anderson made an impression with the Marlins last fall with an impressive showing in the Arizona Fall League where he joined them on the All-Prospect Team for the prestigious league. That performance came on the heels of his 2016 season when he hit .265 with 65 RBI and eleven home runs during stints with High A Jupiter and AA Jacksonville where he was named for the second year as a Florida State League All-Star. A solid infielder, Anderson’s future will depend on his improvement at the plate. Arguably, one of the best hitters to come through Kapco Park, Anderson used his time wisely as an invitee to the Marlins’ Spring Training Camp to begin 2017. Though he began the season back in Jacksonville, playing 87 games with a .251 batting average, Anderson increased his productivity with 55 RBI and 14 home runs. That performance earned him a spot in the MLB Futures Game and eventually a promotion to the AAA New Orleans Babycakes.
Brian Anderson
Anderson surged after the promotion to New Orleans with 8 more home runs and 26 RBI in 33 games, earning the opportunity to jump to the Marlins. With injuries on the club, Anderson was a frequent starter at third base, playing in Miami’s final 25 games and proving that he belongs with a .262 batting average, .337 on-base percentage, and an OPS of .706. For his efforts, Anderson was named as a 2017 Organization All-Star for the Marlins. Many Marlins’ observers have projected 2018 to be the season when Anderson finally warrants his third round selection.
The Lakeshore Chinooks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Entering its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 185 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.lakeshorechinooks.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Chinooks as your favorite team.
