TIM ANDERSON, AMERICAN LEAGUE BATTING CHAMP…
On Sunday, September 29, 2019 — the final day of the regular season — Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson was crowned as the American League batting champion. The Tuscaloosa, AL native became the first Charlotte Knights product to win the batting title since 2002 (Manny Ramirez). It was a special season for TA — let’s take a look…
In 123 games with the White Sox in 2019, Anderson hit .335 (167-for-498) with 81 runs scored, 32 doubles, 18 home runs, 56 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases. His .335 batting average was the highest in the majors — six points ahead of the National League’s Christian Yelich/Ketel Marte and eight points ahead of New York’s D.J. LeMahieu, who hit .327 to finish in second in the American League.
The 2019 season was Anderson’s best as a big leaguer. After hitting .240 in 2018, he hit .095-points higher in 2019 — which is the best season-to-season increase in franchise history.
“I think of where I was when I first came here to where it is now, man, I just came in and continued to work, and it’s such an unbelievable moment for me,” Anderson told the media on Sunday.
Anderson was drafted by the White Sox in the first round of the the 2013 MLB June Amateur Draft (17th overall) and made his way to Charlotte in 2016. He quickly shined with the Knights that season. In just 55 games, he hit .304 (75-for-247) with 39 runs scored, 10 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 20 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases. He was promoted from Charlotte to Chicago on June 10, 2016. At the time of that promotion, Anderson was leading the International League in hits (75) and was second in runs scored (39).
Earlier this season, Anderson was placed on Chicago’s Injured List and he returned to Uptown Charlotte for a rehab assignment. The 26-year-old appeared in five games with the Knights and hit .348 (8-for-23) with three runs scored, one double, one home run, and four RBIs. It was great to see him for a few days back in the Knights pinstripes.
Congrats on a remarkable season, Tim!
