UPDATED RESEARCH - 2023 Draft Prospect - 3B - Max Anderson

 

Max Anderson

3B Nebraska

2022 Cornhusker stat line - 53-G, 224-AB, .299, 10-HR

 

11-19-22 - 2023 MLB Draft: an early look at the Big Ten

http://dugoutedgebaseball.blogspot.com/2022/11/2023-mlb-draft-early-look-at-big-ten.html?m=1&s=03

 

6. 3B Max Anderson, Nebraska.

Bat: R. Throw: R. 6', 195 lbs. Born 2/28/2002. Hometown: Omaha, NE.

2022: 10 HR, .299/.349/.513, 6 SB, 26/14 K/BB in 53 games.

With glasses and an average build, Max Anderson doesn't look like a top prospect. However, between a .314/.366/.507 career line at Nebraska and a long track record of success in the Cape Cod League, it's hard to knock the performance. He played on the Cape in both 2021 and 2022 and combined to slash .297/.356/.405 in 78 games, showing no issues with the jump in competition from the Big Ten either after his freshman or sophomore campaigns. 

Anderson is an aggressive hitter that would rather chase a borderline pitch than get caught looking at a quality strike, leading to a 6.8% career walk rate at Nebraska, but his strong bat to ball skills really limit the swing and miss so he still rarely strikes out with an 11.7% career rate. 

It evens out to an average hit tool that could become above average if he gets a little more selective, and he's already moving in that direction having bumped his walk rate from 6.0% his first year on the Cape to 10.7% this past summer. The Omaha native also shows average power stemming from his ability to find the barrel consistently, making for a very well-rounded offensive profile with an accurate and potent barrel. 

He's going to want that bat to play up, because he's an average athlete that will have to work hard to stay at third base without the explosive range or arm strength you get from many converted shortstops that end up there. If he's forced over to first base or a corner outfield spot, the power will really have to come around (and he'll have to find a way to cut down on the chases against higher quality offspeed stuff) if he wants to play every day. Otherwise, it's a bench/platoon bat profile.

 

7-28-22 - Top Third Basemen In 2023 Draft -

https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/15/2023-mlb-draft-prospects -

 

87 3B

Max Anderson

Nebraska

Max Anderson produced big time for Nebraska in his freshman year, receiving Freshman All-American honors and carried that momentum into a strong summer for Bourne in the Cape Cod League. Anderson has good bat speed, really hits balls hard on the inner half of the plate. On the whole there's good pitch recognition, but he will chase good breakers and can struggle handling high fastballs. 

Best attribute offensively is great hand speed that allows Anderson to attack the ball out in front, resulting in lots of pull side power with a swing plane that lets him elevate. His range at third is solid and he does get his body in position to make plays, but his hands aren't great and his arm action is awkward and plays down his arm strength. 

However, this is still a very young player, and there's work that can be done to get more consistent with the arm and hands at the hot corner.