Ian Theodore Anderson (born May 2, 1998) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theAtlanta Braves andLos Angeles Angels. Anderson was selected out of high school by the Braves with the third overall pick of the2016 MLB draft, and made his MLB debut in 2020. Anderson won aWorld Series ring in 2021 as a member of the Braves.
Anderson was considered one of the top prospects in the2016 MLB draft.[18][19] To induce Anderson to forgo college baseball,[20] theAtlanta Braves selected him with the third overall pick in the 2016 draft and signed him for $4 million.[18][19]
Anderson made his professional debut with theGulf Coast League Braves and was promoted to theDanville Braves on August 6, 2016.[21] He finished the 2016 season with a combined 1–2 record and 2.04 ERA in ten starts between both teams. In 2017, he played with theRome Braves where he went 4–5 with a 3.14 ERA in 20 starts.[22] He began 2018 with theFlorida Fire Frogs[23] and was promoted to theMississippi Braves on August 8.[24] In 24 starts between the two clubs, he was 4–7 with a 2.49 ERA.[25]
Anderson was invited to spring training before the 2019 season began, and returned to Mississippi to start the year.[26][27] At midseason, he was selected as aSouthern League All-Star, then subsequently named to the 2019All-Star Futures Game.[28][29][30][31] On August 5, Anderson was promoted to theGwinnett Stripers, and made hisInternational League debut the next day.[32][33] At the end of the season, Anderson won the Braves' organizational pitcher of the year award.[34]
Anderson finished the 2020 season with a 3–2 record over 6 games started and 321⁄3 innings, posting a 1.95 ERA with 41 strikeouts, while giving up just 21 hits.[43] He was fifth in the NL with 4 wild pitches.[44] He relied mostly on his 95 mph fourseam fastball, 88 mph changeup, and 80 mph curveball, and only rarely threw a 92 mph sinker.[45] Anderson received a single vote inNational League Rookie of the Year voting, tying him for seventh place withAndrés Giménez andSixto Sánchez.[46]
On October 1, making his first postseason appearance, Anderson earned the win against theCincinnati Reds, clinching theWild Card Series for the Braves. He became the youngest pitcher inMLB postseason history to allow fewer than three hits while striking out nine while pitching at least six innings.[47] In theNLDS game on October 7, Anderson threw 5.2 innings and got 9 strikeouts as the Braves beat theMiami Marlins 2–0.[48]
In 2021, Anderson was 9–5 with a 3.58 ERA in 24 starts.[44] He won aWorld Series ring as a member of the2021 Braves.[49] Anderson became the 2nd person in World Series history to leave a game after throwing five no-hit innings, accomplished during the2021 World Series, in Game 3, striking out fourHouston Astros batters and earning the win in the Braves' 2–0 victory.[50][51] That year, he finished fifth in the 2021Rookie of the Year voting.[52]
Anderson struggled throughout the 2022 season, starting 21 games, and pitching to a 9–6 record, alongside a 5.11 ERA, until he was demoted to theGwinnett Stripers on August 7.[53][54] He issued an MLB-leading 53 walks up to that point in the season.[55]
In 2023, after impressive spring training performances fromJared Shuster andDylan Dodd, Anderson was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett to begin the regular season.[56] On April 11, 2023, it was announced that Anderson would undergoTommy John surgery and miss the entire 2023 season.[57][52]
Anderson was optioned to Gwinnett to begin the 2024 season as he continued his recovery from surgery.[58]
On March 23, 2025, Anderson was traded to theLos Angeles Angels in exchange forJosé Suárez.[59][60] In 7 appearances for Los Angeles, he struggled to an 0-1 record and 11.57 ERA with 8 strikeouts across9+1⁄3 innings pitched. On April 24, Anderson wasdesignated for assignment by the Angels.[61]
On April 27, 2025, Anderson was claimed off waivers by theAtlanta Braves.[62] On April 29, he was designated for assignment without making an appearance for the Braves.[63] Anderson cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-AGwinnett Stripers on May 1.[64] He made 12 starts split between Gwinnett and the Double-AColumbus Clingstones, accumulating a 1-7 record and 5.36 ERA with 38 strikeouts across48+1⁄3 innings pitched. Anderson elected free agency following the season on November 6.[65]
As a prospect, Anderson's pitches included a mid-90s 4-seam and 2-seam fastball,[10] plus curveball, and developing changeup.[66] Anderson throws a12–6 curveball with a low spin rate.[67] In the minors, Anderson used his curveball more frequently against right-handed batters.[68] By the time he reached the major leagues, Anderson's changeup had improved markedly.[67][69][70][71] His arm angle has stood out to teammates, as it is higher than that of most pitchers.[72]
^O'Brien, David (August 25, 2020)."Ian Anderson waits for debut, Ronald Acuña Jr. back in leadoff spot".The Athletic. RetrievedAugust 26, 2020.It's a kid that's got some good ride on his fastball. His secondary pitches — changeup, curveball — they've got potential to be really good pitches.
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