Exciting news for baseball fans – Ian Anderson is back on the mound! After a hiatus due to Tommy John Surgery in April 2023, Anderson made his triumphant return to the field on Tuesday.
Anderson, a proud 2016 graduate of Shenendehowa and a third overall pick by the Atlanta Braves in the same year, started his rehab assignment with the Florida Complex League Braves on Tuesday.
He showcased his skills by pitching two flawless innings, striking out four players from the FCL Pirates. The 26-year-old right-hander’s fastball was clocked between 92-95 mph, showing no signs of his recent surgery.
Since his MLB debut in 2020, Anderson has maintained a commendable 22-13 record for the Braves, with a 3.97 ERA over 272 1-3 innings. He managed to play only one game in 2023 for the AAA Gwinnett Stripers before his surgery.
Interestingly, Ian Anderson’s twin brother, Ben Anderson, also made a comeback from his Tommy John Surgery in August last year. Ben, a right-handed pitcher for the Texas Rangers organization, is currently playing for the AA Frisco RoughRiders.
Shen grad and Texas Rangers minor leaguer Ben Anderson begins rehab assignment post Tommy John Surgery
This season, Ben Anderson has played 12 games, with a 4-4 record, a 4.30 ERA, and 46 strikeouts in 52 1-3 innings. His best performance was on June 6 against the Corpus Christi Hooks, where he allowed only three hits over six scoreless innings. He walked two and struck out five, securing the win.
Disagree. His performance was underwhelming and lacked the intensity needed for a successful rehabilitation stint.