Shenendehowa grad Ian Anderson gets Triple-A call with Braves

PHOTOGRAPHER: File Photo

The Atlanta Braves promoted Shenendehowa graduate Ian Anderson to Triple-A Monday.

Shenendehowa High School graduate and Atlanta Braves minor league prospect Ian Anderson is making the jump to Triple-A baseball.

The 21-year-old pitcher was promoted Monday from Double-A Mississippi to Triple-A Gwinnett in Georgia, and will get his first start with the Stripers Tuesday in Rochester.

Anderson made 21 starts for the Mississippi Braves and was tied for third in the minors with 147 strikeouts in 111 innings. His 31.8 percent strikeout rate is 12th-best among minor league pitchers with at least 90 innings this season.

The right-hander was 7-5 with Mississippi, and he also posted a 2.68 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over his 21 starts, ranking fourth and sixth, respectively, among Southern League hurlers.

Anderson in late June pitched the first seven innings of a combined no-hitter, and struck out 14, against Jackson. Early last month he pitched a perfect first inning in the Sirius XM All-Star Futures Game in Cleveland.

Anderson was the Braves’ 2016 third overall pick in the Major League Baseball Draft. He is currently No. 34 in MLB.com’s latest Top-100 rankings.

Depending on his Triple-A performance, Anderson could be among Atlanta’s September call-ups and would likely pitch in relief in that scenario. According to Braves officials, Anderson can reach the low-to-mid 90s with hs fastball and his curveball and changeup are also considered above-average.

In June, Anderson’s twin brother Ben was drafted in the 13th round out of Binghamton University by the Texas Rangers and the catcher-turned-pitcher is part of their minor league system. The Anderson brothers were both members of Shenendehowa’s state championship-winning baseball squad in 2016, and both were named to the all-state first team that year.

Reach Gazette Sportswriter Jim Schiltz at 518-395-3143, [email protected] or @jim_schiltz on Twitter.