Miami Marlins sign former American League batting champion and two-time All-Star Tim Anderson
Two-time Roberto Clemente Award nominee and one-time Silver Slugger Award winner batted .300-or-higher in four consecutive seasons from 2019-2022
Jupiter, Fla. – The Miami Marlins today announced that the club has signed free agent shortstop Tim Anderson to a one-year Major League contract. In a corresponding move, right-handed pitcher Sandy Alcantara has been transferred to the 60-day Injured List.
The 2019 American League batting champion, Anderson batted .245 (121x493) with 18 doubles, two triples, one home run, 25 RBI, and 13 stolen bases in 121 games with the Chicago White Sox last season. The right-handed hitter slashed .304 AVG/.331 OBP/.384 SLG against left-handed pitchers last campaign, starting 117 games at shortstop and two games at second base. He batted .274 (60x219) in 56 games after July 14 until the end of the season, including a monthly-high .292 (28x96) over 23 games in July.
The two-time American League All-Star (2021-22) slashed .282/.312/.422 during an eight-year span, all with Chicago-AL, since being selected 17th overall by the White Sox in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of East Central Community College in Decatur, Miss. An American League Silver Slugger Award winner (2020), Anderson recorded a .318/.347/.473 slash line with 103 doubles, 52 home runs, 188 RBI, and 322 runs scored in 374 games over four seasons with the White Sox from 2019-22, leading the Majors in batting average during that span (Marlins infielder Luis Arraez was second with a .314 batting average) and ranking second with 50 games of three-or-more hits (Freddie Freeman, 55).
Anderson, 30, won the 2019 American League batting crown after leading Major League Baseball with a .335 batting average (167x498) over 123 games played, joining Luke Appling (.388 in 1936) as the only players in White Sox history to accomplish the feat. The .335 average was the fourth highest by a White Sox player since 1940, trailing only Hall of Famer Frank Thomas (1994, 1996, 1997). He also set career highs in runs scored (81), hits (167), doubles (32), and total bases (253) during the award-winning season.
The Tuscaloosa, Ala. native owns a White Sox franchise record (min. 30 PA) .485 batting average (16x33) over seven career postseason games, appearing in the 2020 (ALWC) and 2021 (ALDS) Postseasons. His 16 hits are the most in Major League Baseball history over a player's first seven Postseason games.
Anderson also batted .333 (6x18) with one double, one triple, five RBI, and three runs scored in six games with Team USA during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He became the first White Sox position player to represent Team USA at the international event, as they finished runner up to Team Japan in the final celebrated on March 21, 2023, at loanDepot park in Miami.
A two-time White Sox Roberto Clemente Award nominee (2019-20), Anderson has appeared in 885 career games (882 starts) at the shortstop position, with two games at second base, recording a .962 career fielding percentage (130 E/7662.0 innings). He enters the 2024 season needing two home runs for 100 in his career, 72 runs scored for 600, 79 hits for 1,100 and 70 total bases for 1,600.
Alcantara, 28, went 7-12 with a 4.14 ERA (85 ER/184.2 IP) in 28 starts with Miami last season. He was placed on the 15-day Injured List on Sept. 4 with a right forearm flexor strain and missed the remainder of the regular season. At the time of his Injury List placement, Alcantara ranked second in MLB in innings pitched (184.2) behind San Francisco’s Logan Webb.
The Marlins, who are coming off the club’s fourth Postseason appearance and first in a full season since 2003, begin the 2024 season at home on March 28 versus the Pittsburgh Pirates. Fans can get their tickets today for Opening Day, as well as all home games, at Marlins.com/Tickets.