Max Anderson is making a reputation for himself within the desert. The Arizona Fall League’s hottest hitter is slashing a stand-up-and-take-notice .488/.650/.902 over 60 plate appearances with the Scottsdale Scorpions. Hitter-friendly circuit? Completely, however Anderson’s numbers are nonetheless spectacular. The Detroit Tigers prospect has been scorching baseballs.
His regular-season numbers recommend that his AFL output isn’t wholly shocking. Taking part in towards the next degree of competitors, the 23-year-old infielder left the yard 19 occasions whereas placing up a 135 wRC+ between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo. A .350/.400/.604 hitter on the College of Nebraska, the erstwhile Cornhusker has gone on to log a 120 wRC+ since being drafted forty fifth general by Detroit in 2023.
Much less spectacular has been the teenager’s 6.7% stroll price as knowledgeable. As Eric Longenhagen and James Fegan wrote again in March, “‘I wish to swing, it’s not a secret,’ is each a favourite outdated José Abreu quote and the working ethos of Anderson.” When it comes to aggressiveness, that hasn’t actually modified.
Our lead prospect analyst has seen a variety of him within the AFL, and he supplied an up to date report on the 40+ FV prospect earlier this week.
“Anderson continues to be just a little chase-prone for my liking, but it surely is likely to be the lone blemish on the face of his hitting talent set,” Longenhagen instructed me. “He’s rather more on time to do pull-side injury than he was a yr in the past. He has a way more balanced-looking spray chart now than he did popping out of 2024 [and is] higher at pulling hanging breakers. It’s made him a extra harmful hitter general, regardless of his tendency to swing at all the pieces.”
Anderson’s strategy was the primary topic I broached when speaking to him in Arizona a number of weeks in the past. I used to be particularly keen on what the group’s hitting coaches and coordinators have been stressing to him.
“They’re principally telling me to maintain doing what I’m doing,” mentioned Anderson, whose 6.5% stroll price between Erie and Toledo was accompanied by a 15.8% strikeout price and a .296/.350/.478 slash line. “In an ideal world I’d stroll extra, however you additionally don’t wish to threat ruining the strategy that received you so far in your profession. So, it’s form of sticking to what I’ve accomplished, but on the similar time bettering what I can. If one thing is working, don’t change an excessive amount of.”
In keeping with Anderson, the Tigers aren’t heavy-handed in the case of hitting instruction; Kevin McGonigle shared comparable ideas in a current Talks Hitting interview. Furthermore, the group doesn’t espouse a one-size-fits-all strategy.
“They’re nice about taking completely different instances to completely different guys,” he defined. “They know they’ve a bunch of various hitters, and that’s one of many issues that makes their growth course of so good. Reasonably than attempting to mildew one sure sort of hitter, they work with everyone to attempt to make them one of the best hitter they are often.”
Anderson is properly conscious that improved plate self-discipline can be in his greatest curiosity. He tacitly admitted as a lot once I requested him what sort of questions he usually approaches his hitting coaches and coordinators with.
“Simply form of what they see once I’m on the plate, and issues that may make me higher,” mentioned Anderson. “Possibly that’s having a greater two-strike chase price, or getting a number of extra walks on three-ball counts. How do I tame down being aggressive with out making myself too passive? How do I stability these? Once more, I imagine in sticking to what makes you good — not getting exterior out that — however on the similar time, bettering the place you possibly can.”
Requested about his comparatively humble numbers (which included a 106 wRC+ and a 6.4% stroll price) with West Michigan in 2024, Anderson admitted to having been just a little too aggressive at occasions, attempting to pressure the difficulty. Recognizing that Detroit’s Excessive-A affiliate performs its house video games in a pitcher-friendly park, he got here round to understanding that “within the grand scheme, sticking with the method is what’s going to be just right for you.”
As for the success he had this season towards the next degree of competitors, Anderson mentioned he was principally trusting in his capacity and striving to be the hitter he’s at all times been. He additionally mentioned he felt relaxed and cozy taking part in with teammates who’re additionally associates, focusing extra on successful than on particular person accomplishments.
Which brings us to his defensive sport, which is at present a much bigger query mark for Anderson than his tendency to be overaggressive within the batter’s field. The Kansas Metropolis native performed each second base and third base at Nebraska, and he’s accomplished the identical in professional ball. He’s been stationed solely on the scorching nook in Arizona, the place Longenhagen’s seems to be have him pondering the probability that the 6-foot, 210-pound right-handed hitter will in the end find yourself being a left fielder.
Wherever he finally ends up position-wise, Anderson’s bat guarantees to hold him to the large leagues, and that might occur as quickly because the forthcoming season.
“There may be sufficient really feel for hit and energy — Anderson is extremely robust for his measurement — to be ok with him hitting sufficient to play an integral function [for the Tigers],” Longenhagen opined. “He’s on tempo to compete for taking part in time in Detroit late in 2026 and into 2027.”