Anderson debuts for Marlins with slick stop

TAMPA, Fla. -- Tim Anderson went from being the face of a franchise to free agency in one injury-plagued season with the White Sox. He found his new team last Saturday, signing a one-year contract for $5 million with the Marlins.

Anderson was in Miami’s lineup for the first time in Thursday night’s scoreless tie against the Yankees, and he made one outstanding play at shortstop while striking out in both plate appearances.

Anderson saved a run in the second inning, going deep in the hole before fielding a grounder by Oscar Gonzalez, setting and firing a one-hopper that first baseman Trey Mancini fielded with a nice pick.

“[Anderson] saved my butt,” said Marlins starter Ryan Weathers, who struck out five in 2 2/3 innings.

That was mentioned to Anderson.

“Ohhh,” said Anderson, chuckling. “I wouldn’t say that. He made a good pitch, and I made a good play. But it felt good overall -- the first game. I feel confident. I feel comfortable. And now I’m looking forward to keeping it going.

“I didn’t like my at-bats, but I feel like I took some pretty good swings. Felt I was seeing it real well. The more at-bats I get, the more comfortable I’ll feel, and the more useful I get.”

Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa -- who had Marlins manager Skip Schumaker as a player with the Cardinals and Anderson with the White Sox -- was important in uniting his two former players.

“He had a role in me coming here,” Anderson told MLB.com before the game. “I’m sure Tony had some good things to say for me.”

When asked about La Russa’s input, Schumaker smiled and said, “I keep those conversations pretty tight.”

Anderson won the American League batting title by hitting .335 in 2019 and hit .322 while finishing seventh in AL MVP voting in ’20. He was an All-Star in each of the next two seasons before batting .245 with one homer and 25 RBIs in 493 at-bats last year.

What was his reaction when Chicago passed on its club option ($1 million buyout) to keep him for $14 million this season?

“I think we understood,” said Anderson, 30. “I talked to a lot of people there -- from the owner [Jerry Reinsdorf] down. I think it was time -- time for a fresh start for both of us. We understood that and agreed upon that.

“Unfortunately, it was such a great run in Chicago that I hated for it to end. … But you never know what’s on the other side until you go try it.”

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Anderson said his struggles last season were injury-related. He sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee in mid-May, and he played through that and later a sore right shoulder.

“I couldn’t get back to hitting up against my front side,” said Anderson, who has 98 homers and 338 RBIs in eight seasons. “It caused me to stay back a lot and favor my right side. But this offseason, I went to work and got the knee healthy.

“And coming over here and learning, I feel recharged. I’m in a good space mentally. The body feels good and I’m excited to see what the future holds. A lot of people don’t think I can get back there, but nobody knows what type of person I am and what I’m thinking. They don’t know how obsessed I am with getting better and working.”

Meyer impressive after long layoff
Max Meyer made his first game appearance since tearing a ligament in his right elbow July 23, 2022, and undergoing Tommy John surgery 17 days later. He encountered a setback last July with elbow inflammation.

Meyer, who had thrown only six innings in the Majors as a Marlin at the time of the injury, pitched two innings Thursday against the Yankees. He allowed one hit and struck out two.

“I just wanted to compete, and I think I controlled my emotions pretty well,” said Meyer, 24, the club’s No. 3 prospect according to MLB Pipeline.

Schumaker added, “I’m sure he’s sick of throwing bullpens and rehabbing, and probably a lot of dark days the last year and a half. … But it all came together today for our pitching coaches, our trainers and everybody that had a big part in him getting back on the mound. It was a big day for him and our organization because he’s part of our future. He has a bright future.”

What got Meyer through the toughest times?

“It was just all the trainers and all the family,” he said. “It’s a very long process. It’s very hard, and I’m just finally glad it’s over.”

Rogers ‘looked good’ in bullpen session
Trevor Rogers, a candidate for a rotation spot, threw batting practice Thursday in Jupiter before the team departed for Tampa. He had been suffering from left shoulder soreness.

“I watched it, and he looked good,” Schumaker said. “His velo was probably where it should be right now -- sitting at 93 [mph] with a good changeup, and his slider was working. He threw all pitches for strikes -- which is good to see. So, a really encouraging outing today.”