Brett Anderson's life
finally appeared to be slowing down.
Starting
the season with High-A Stockton, Anderson was promoted to Double-A Midland on
June 26. Five appearances later -- with a brief stop at Yankee Stadium for the Futures
Game -- the 20-year-old lefty was off for Beijing to pitch for Team USA in the
Olympics.
After
all that, Anderson returned to Midland to face San Antonio on Aug. 28.
And
after that, he was on the road once again.
A
6-foot-4, 215-pounder, Anderson made his Triple-A debut with the Sacramento
River Cats against the Salt Lake Bees in the Pacific Coast League playoffs on Thursday.
"It’s been a whirlwind season," Anderson
said. "My bags are always packed, and I’m always on the go. You have to go
with it. It’s been fun."
Anderson
hasn't had a problem going with anything, having had success with each of his
minor league -- as well as all-star and Olympic -- showings.
"Going into the season, you’d never expect to do some of the things I’ve done," he said. "Especially with
the Futures Game and the Olympics."
Sacramento
pitching coach Rick Rodriguez couldn't recall having seen Anderson pitch prior to last week.
"He did a little side [on Wednesday],"
Rodriguez said. "He’s a big kid. He’s got a good fastball, good curveball,
and a good little changeup going. We’ll just see what he does."
Aside from allowing three runs in the seventh inning, Anderson looked good in his Triple-A debut. Eleven of the 15 batters he faced to put the ball in play hit it on the ground (73 percent).
He was trying too hard at first -- throwing in the mid 90s -- saying he'd rather work in the high 80s to low 90s. He pitched four innings in relief
of the rehabbing Sean Gallagher.
"It
was a really good atmosphere," Anderson said. "Once I settled in, I
threw pretty well. Getting to close it out in the last inning, I enjoyed it. It
was fun."
Anderson's
performance -- and fast-changing season -- left Rodriguez impressed.
"That’s quite the accomplishment for 20 years old," he said. "Obviously, it’s very, very good experience for him. Not just the talent he’s facing, but in terms of the mental part of the game, playing that caliber baseball at such a young age."
Having advanced from the California League to the PCL in a matter of months, there's only one stop remaining on Anderson's tour: McAfee Coliseum and the Oakland A's clubhouse.
Given the season Anderson has had, it would be only fitting if that call comes in a timely manner.
"You never know what will happen," Anderson said. "All I can do is go out there and throw my game. If the chips fall where they may, then I’ll go out there and get some outs."