If you are a Detroit Tigers' fan, you had most likely never heard of Josh Anderson before April 10th, when he started in left field on Opening Day against the Rangers.
Anderson was acquired by Detroit on March 30th, just 11 days before his first start with his new team. The Tigers gave up minor league pitcher Rudy Darrow to the Braves in return for the outfielder.
This is Josh Anderson's third team in three years, but by the way he is playing right now, it looks like he may have found his home.
His first major league season came with the Houston Astros, where he hit .358 in 67 at bats. In his second season, this time with the Braves, Anderson hit a decent .294 in 136 at bats and stroked three home runs. He also showed off his speed, successfully stealing 10 of 11 bases.
So far this season with Detroit, Anderson is hitting .297 in 64 at bats as he started the season as the fourth or fifth outfielder on the roster, behind Curtis Granderson, Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen and Marcus Thames. He has stolen six of seven bases so far and has caused many problems for opposing pitchers and catchers.
As for Rudy Darrow, the other side of the trade, hasn't pitched as well as the Double-A Mississippi Braves hoped for. He has posted a 1-0 record, but his ERA of 9.64 is a showcase of his 10 earned runs and 10 walks in 9 2/3 innings.
For some reason, Dave Dombrowski keeps finding diamonds in the rough. Nearly weeks before Opening Day last season, Dombrowski traded for Armando Galarraga, and we know how that turned out. This season it was Anderson, and so far, he has produced and has become the Tigers' "Silent Assassin" at the plate, on the basepaths, and in the outfield.
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