Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson is looking to get back to his 2021 form. After a tumultuous 2022 season which saw the talented infielder struggle to stay healthy on the field as he played in just 79 games, fought through early defensive lapses and a couple of light suspensions, he’ll look to lead a talented White Sox team under new manager Pedro Grifol.

 

 

Will Tim Anderson Thrive Under New Manager Pedro Grifol?

 

Grifol replaces three-time World Series winning manager Tony LaRussa, whose MLB career spanned from 1963-2022. Just like LaRussa, the new skipper knows his team will go as Anderson goes. After failing to meet lofty expectations in 2022, due to a myriad of things, Grifol wants this team with Anderson as the catalyst, to get off to a fast start.

In a recent presser at the team’s spring training complex in Glendale, Arizona, Grifol had this to say:

“A fast start to the season would be nice, energy is a must, but I’m here now, man,” Grifol said. “I’m in the moment.”

Anderson Needs A Rebound Season For White Sox

 

Despite being the American League’s starting shortstop in the 2022 All Star Game, Anderson’s abbreviated season (.301 with six homers, with 25 RBI, and 13 stolen bases) was spent dealing with a myriad of things from injuries, suspensions, and off the field drama. Anderson was fined and given a one-game suspension last April for “flipping the bird” to fans in Cleveland. Adding to Anderson’s woes were injuries which that affected his defense and slowed the former batting champion’s lethal bat at times.

The tabloid drama with Anderson’s family life — which really isn’t anyone’s business — is dying down just in time for the MLB season. Anderson will need his total focus to help his team take the next step. He came into last season hungry and after dynamic performance in the WBC, Anderson’s reputation is intact and he’s even hungrier than he was last season to get this 162-game party started.

 

Tim Anderson Fully Healthy And MVP Hunting

 

From the looks of his spring training performance, Anderson is fully recovered from the surgery to repair the tear on his finger, so it’s no reason to believe he can’t produce that 20 homer and 30 stolen base season he’s more capable of. Furthermore, the World Baseball Classic was also an indication as to Anderson being fully healed, as the dynamic infielder accrued five hits in 16 at-bats, with two walks, three runs scored, and five RBI.

That’s the Tim Anderson who can win AL MVP and is a top-five MVP candidate coming into the 2023 season.

Tim Anderson Has Nothing To Prove

 

Heading into his seventh season, Anderson is the longest-tenured White Sox player. Prior to Sunday’s spring training game against the Rockies, Anderson told reporters he’s no longer looking for validation amongst his peers. But is more in tune with focusing on how good he can be for himself.

“It’s more proving it to myself now to see how good I can be,” Anderson said ahead of the club’s 4-2 Spring Training loss to the Rockies on Sunday. “It’s more personal than trying to show I can be a shortstop. If you don’t think I can be a shortstop, then it’s cool.

“You could go back off the last four or five years — if that’s not enough, then what are you searching for? So I’m just doing me and having fun and enjoying the game and loving my best life. I’m working on myself to go out and get better and proving things to myself and trying to bring wins to the fans. Other than that, I’m no longer trying to prove anything.”

From the sounds of it, Anderson is locked and loaded for a huge 2023 season, one that will continue to define his thus far wonderful career. But he knows “togetherness” as a team is the only way to reach the lofty goals the team has set out to have. The team’s projected win total is 83.5 which would probably keep them just outside of the Wild Card, so that’s a great starting point. With a little luck, Chi-Town could move on the 85–90-win mark and that will probably be enough with Cleveland being the only other legit contender in the American League Central.

And that starts and ends with TA7 on the Southside of the “Windy City.”