The Other Side: Chase Anderson Appreciated Opportunity With Pirates

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of a periodic series that spotlights Pittsburgh Pirates-oriented news and notes from their opponents.

Chase Anderson did not make the Pittsburgh Pirates’ opening-day roster. Yet that doesn’t mean that it was a wasted spring training for the veteran right-hander.

While Anderson did not make the final cut in Bradenton, Fla., he pitched well enough for other teams to have interest. When the Pirates told Anderson he did not make the team, he exercised an opt-out clause in his minor-league contract.

Anderson signed a major-league deal with the Boston Red Sox a few hours later. The 36-year-old has made six relief appearances and one start for them, going 0-1 with a 5.52 ERA.

“The Red Sox were the first team to come in contact and it was pretty quick for me,” Anderson said last week when Boston played the Pirates at PNC Park. “I was thankful to be wanted, that’s for sure. I had a pretty good spring, and in my position, you’re auditioning for 29 other teams not just the Pirates.”

In Grapefruit League play, Anderson allowed just three runs in 11 innings for a 2.45 ERA.

“I wasn’t in the Pirates’ plans and I totally understood,” he said. “I’ve got nothing bad to say about the Pirates because I really enjoyed my spring with them. Great people, great organization, made some good friends over there. They treated me well.”

The Red Sox are the eighth team that Anderson has pitched for in his 11-year career. He debuted with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2014 and has had stints with the Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays, Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, Tampa Bay Rays and Colorado Rockies.

“The Red Sox were the first team to come in contact and it was pretty quick for me,” Anderson said last week when Boston played the Pirates at PNC Park. “I was thankful to be wanted, that’s for sure. I had a pretty good spring and in my position, you’re auditioning for 29 other teams not just the Pirates.”

“I’m glad to be with the Red Sox. I’m in a good spot,” Anderson said. “I’ve never been in a big-market place and it’s kind of fun to experience that at Fenway (Park) every day for home games. That’s a dream come true.”

Polk County Showdown

The bottom of the first inning on Tuesday night at PNC Park started with Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Tobias Harris facing the Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen.

Harris was making his major-league debut while McCutchen appeared in his 2,023^rd career game.

Despite the experience disparity, the two have one thing in common – both were born and raised in Polk County in central Florida. Harris is from Winter Haven and McCutchen is a Fort Meade native.

McCutchen hit a home run on Harris’ first career pitch. Perhaps the Brewers should have called Polk County for a scouting report.

“I talked to some of my coaches from back home and they said definitely don’t throw a fastball in to him,” Harris said.

What pitch did the Brewers call? An inside fastball, of course.

However, that was the only run Harris allowed in five innings.

Pedro Alvarez Update

Former Pirates corner infielder Pedro Alvarez is in his second season as a baseball operations assistant with the Brewers.

Much of Alvarez’s work Is helping players with mental skills. He finished his medicine, health and society degree last year at Vanderbilt.

“He really enjoys it and I’d like to see him take on a bigger role over time,” said Brewers manager Pat Murphy, who is Alvarez’s father-in-law.

It might surprise Pirates’ fans that Alvarez would become a sounding board for players in the Brewers’ organization. He was famously quiet during his six seasons with the Pirates from 2011-17.

“He’s starting to come out of his shell,” Murphy said.