Max Anderson aims for second base in more ways than one

While many hitters sit back and wait for a pitch they can pull, that’s not Max Anderson’s game. In fact, Anderson feels he’s at his best when stinging the ball over the second baseman’s head. 

After two decent – but not spectacular – seasons at the University of Nebraska, a sensational junior season propelled Anderson to a level where the Tigers used the No. 45 overall pick on him in the 2023 draft. Anderson, a right-handed hitter with a closed-off stance, slashed .414/.461/.771 in 269 plate appearances as a junior, which included 21 home runs. 

Anderson, an aggressive hitter by nature, made it a focus prior to what would wind up being his final season at Nebraska to take more pitches. Ironically, his walk rate decreased, but his batting average and slugging percentage skyrocketed.

After inking with the Tigers, which included a $1.43 million signing bonus – $480,000 below slot value – Anderson spent the final weeks of the 2023 season at Low-A Lakeland. He slashed .289/.345/.445 with a solid 17.9% strikeout rate in 145 plate appearances. 

Anderson got the bump to High-A West Michigan to start this season, and he’s off to a good start. He’s is 7-for-16 with a home run, double, and three walks following Friday night’s game against Quad City. 

Anderson played three of the four infield positions at Nebraska, with shortstop being the exception, but played more at third than anywhere else. The Tigers are using him almost exclusively at second, where he hopes to stay. 

Tigers Minor League Report (TMLR): You made a quick turnaround from Nebraska to pro ball at Lakeland. How did the experience there shape your offseason and what did you work on?

Anderson: I think that 32 games is less about worrying about your results and more about just figuring out pro ball. You’re figuring out what you need to do and what you need to get better at and how different the pro game is from the college game. For me, that was getting quicker and getting faster with my first step. I think that helps you in every facet of the game, with defense and offense. That was my main goal: getting quicker and being able to stay at second base.

TMLR: It’s only been a few games at High-A, but have you noticed any differences in the level of pitching?

Anderson: The biggest difference is execution of pitches. The pitchers here (in the Midwest League), they execute at a higher level than at Low-A. Sometimes the guys at Low-A are just kind of throwing it and not always hitting their spots. 

TMLR: You’ve said you always try to keep things simple. At the same time, you made it a point at Nebraska to see more pitches. How do you balance the two? Does that involve continually altering your approach? 

Anderson: Yes and no. Throughout the year, my approach is going to be the same: hit the fastball as hard as I can up the middle and to right field. Every pitcher is a little different, so there is some adjusting to them. It’s a cat-and-mouse game. They have scouting reports on us, and we have scouting reports on them. Everybody knows what everybody’s best is, and they’re going to try and not let you do that. When I can, I try to take advantage of that and get my hits up the middle and to right field, but sometimes you have to adjust and take a different approach to a pitcher that’s attacking you a little differently. 

TMLR: Is hitting to right field something that’s always been a priority for you? 

Anderson: At Nebraska, that was kind of our MO as a team – a line drive over the second baseman’s head or right back at the pitcher. I just kind of took that and ran with it. When I’ve been at my best and have gotten hot, it’s been when I’ve been driving the ball to right field. 

TMLR: You’ve been playing second base in the Tigers organization. Is that where you’d like to stay?

Anderson: I’m open to playing wherever, but I do see myself staying at second base. It’s where I’m most comfortable, I’d say, although I wouldn’t say I like it there more than any other position. To be honest, it’s just where I’m playing right now, but I’m very comfortable there. 

TMLR: Which players are you a fan of, past or current? 

Anderson: My favorite baseball player growing up was Troy Tulowitzki. I’m not sure if it was his game, but I just always liked him and (he was highly rated on video games). The guy I like to watch hit is Nolan Arenado. He’s always been really good at going the other way and being able to pull the ball. And he’s kind of closed off, too. He’s always been a good swing for me to watch. 

RELATED: TMLR’s scouting report on Max Anderson