Pittsburgh Pirates: 2016 Draft Pick Matthew Anderson

Taking a look at Pittsburgh Pirates tenth round draft pick Matthew Anderson.

Matthew Anderson was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 10th round with the 315th pick of the draft. Anderson is a right handed pitcher out of Morehead State.

During his senior season with the Eagles, Anderson made the First team All- Ohio Valley Conference. This was during a season where he set the school record for strikeouts in a single season with 130. He finished with 321 strikeouts for his career, second best mark at the school, while leading the team in strikeouts every year. An 8-3 season record and 2.95 ERA complete an impressive draft resume. Worth of a 10th round pick.

2016

After signing, Anderson was assigned to West Virginia of the short-season New York Penn League. His statistic line seems a bit odd. Matthew Anderson started seven games and appeared in 14. His ERA was 4.65 for 31 innings pitched. Yet Anderson struck out 42 hitters and only walked 14. Hitters only managed a .214 batting average off him. No home runs were allowed by Anderson. It seems like one or two bad outings may have inflated his ERA and caused the higher than you would think number.

More from Rum Bunter

• Pittsburgh Pirates Prospect Stockwatch: Outfielder Tres Gonzalez
• Pittsburgh Pirates Podcast: Rum Bunter Radio Talks Winter Meetings Fallout
• Pittsburgh Pirates: Potential Leadoff Hitters in 2023
• Pittsburgh Pirates: The Rotation is not being Improved
• Pittsburgh Pirates Make Vince Velasquez Signing Official

2017

The Pirates moved Matthew Anderson up a level for 2017. He currently pitches for the West Virginia Power.  Splitting time as a starter and in the bullpen, Anderson has made 24 appearances, with 11 starts. The ERA has gone down to 3.26. He has collected seven victories against five losses this season. Anderson picked up one of the two saves he attempted this season.

He continues to strikeout more than he walks, retiring 86 hitters and giving free passes to 33. Hitter have seen their batting average against him dip to .206.  This is in 77.1 innings of work, double plus what he threw last season. Statistically Anderson is on track in his development.

I see  Matthew Anderson as a future top 30 Pirates prospect. While the amount of right-handed pitching prospects in the top 30 is high, graduation could be coming for a lot of them. Anderson has shown he has the ability to strikeout hitters and limit the damage at the Low-A level. Continued improvement and a promotion to Bradenton for the last mouth of the season could be reasonable. If not look, for Anderson to start there next season.