Portsmouth's Anderson drafted by Twins
2006-06-08 Portsmouth Herald News, Portsmouth,NH,USA
Roger Brown
rbrown@seacoastonline.com
The Minnesota Twins selected Anderson, a 20-year-old Portsmouth resident, in the 18th round (546th pick overall) of Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday night.
Anderson, a left-handed pitcher who throws in the low 90s, recently completed his second season with the Northern Essex Community College baseball team. NECC is a junior college with campuses in Haverhill, Mass., and Lawrence, Mass.
"I expected to get drafted, I just didn't know when," Anderson said. "I was listening to the draft at my house. When I heard my name, I was happy. Real excited."
Anderson, who played at Portsmouth High School, helped NECC reach the NJCAA Division III World Series this season. He injured his elbow in the regional tournament, however, and didn't get a chance to pitch after that.
"It's getting better every day, but I'm still not 100 percent," Anderson explained. "I think I was just tired. I've had a tired arm before, but this time it hurt in the elbow area. I was told to shut it down for a couple of weeks."
Anderson's father, Chris, said his son spoke with the Twins on Sunday.
"They called and asked if he'd take sixth-round money and he said, 'Yes,'" the elder Anderson said. "Then they asked him if he'd take 26th-round money and he told them, 'I don't know.'
"The big concern with them is signability. I'm sure the fact that he strained an elbow ligament in the regionals didn't help his draft stock any."
Winnacunnet High School baseball coach Mike Daboul, who is also a scout for the Twins, said representatives from the organization will likely meet with Anderson this week. According to Daboul, if Anderson signs a contract he could begin his professional career with the Class A Fort Myers Miracle.
"Jay Weitzel scouts the Northeast for us and he runs things, but since it's such a big area I help him out," Daboul said. "We'll present (Anderson) with an offer, hopefully he'll sign it and then he'll be on his way to Fort Myers. The sooner he gets there the sooner he can start climbing the ladder."
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