Clifton Park’s World Series Star Will Miss 2023 Season

When you are 23-years-old and just pitched 5-innings of no-hit baseball in Game 3 of the 2021 World Series, you may think "this is easy!" However, staying on top in the big leagues is anything but easy, especially when injuries set-in.

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2022 was not the year that Atlanta Braves starting pitcher and Shenendahowa grad, Ian Anderson, expected to have. After posting a 12-7 record with a sub 3.00 ERA over his first two seasons, followed by an incredible World Series appearance, Anderson's effectiveness dropped last season. Shortly after the All-Star break, the Rexford native was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett and eventually shut-down. Now there appears to be a reason.

As reported by Rodger Wyland on 104.5 FM's Big Board Sports on Tuesday, Ian Anderson will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair his right elbow. ESPN's Buster Olney told The Drive with Charlie & Dan this offseason that the Braves wanted Anderson to work on using his change-up more. The Shenendahowa graduate posted rough numbers this spring and was optioned to Triple-A out of camp.

Wyland reported on his show that he communicated with Ian Anderson's father, Bob. The player's father expects that Ian will be ready to go for the 2024 season. Anderson was the #3 overall pick by the Atlanta Braves in the 2016 MLB draft out of Shenendahowa High School. CBS Sports reported that the Braves feel that the "degrading elbow has played a prominent role in those struggles, and the hope is that Anderson can resume realizing his potential as a core rotation piece once he's fully healed."