Scottsdale, Ariz. — For Tommy Petty, the waiting is the hardest part.
Ditto for Rockies pitching prospect Tyler Anderson.
The injured left-hander starter, so good last season at Double-A Tulsa and on the cusp of making a leap to the majors, is still not throwing the baseball — no bullpen sessions, no long toss, no short toss.
Rockies left-hander Tyler Anderson, a former first-round draft choice, is a limited participant in spring training because of a stress fracture in his elbow. (Getty Images)
“If it was up to me, I’d throw right now, but I have to be smart,” he said. “We want to takes it extra slow and make sure it never happens again.”
“It” is the stress fracture in his left elbow. It first flared up when the 6-foot-4 southpaw was pitching for High-A Modesto (Calif.) in 2013. He recovered and took a giant step forward for Double-A Tulsa in 2014 when he was named a Texas League all-star and the league’s pitcher of the year. Anderson went 7-4 with a 1.98 ERA, 40 walks and 106 strikeouts in 23 starts. He was 4-1 with a 1.01 ERA in 11 starts after the all-star break. His season ended during the playoffs when pain returned to his elbow.
“For most of the (season) if felt very good, and I would only feel (pain) just every once in a while,” Anderson said. “But it’s one of those things. When it gets bad it gets bad really fast. Then, after a while, it becomes pretty bearable. I had the pain before, so I had an idea of what it was.”
Anderson admits frustrated, but he’s trying to be patient.
“Last year year I was throwing by again December, but this time they don’t want me throwing yet,” he said. “It’s not any worse than it was before, but they just want to make sure I get better.
“The tough part is that I feel good, but I just can’t do anything. But the good part is that we have a lot of veterans here and I’m in a (pitching) group with (Jorge) De La Rosa and (LaTroy) Hawkins, so I can learn a lot.”
Last month, there was not a specific timetable for Anderson’s recovery.
“We are going to do what’s best for Tyler’s long-term future with our club,” Bridich said.
Anderson was selected by the Rockies in the first round (20th overall) of the 2011 draft out of Oregon. He received a $1.4 million signing bonus.
In November, the club added Anderson to its 40-man roster to protect him from being selected in the Rule 5 draft at baseball’s winter meetings in December. To make room for Anderson, the Rockies designated right-hander Juan Nicasio for assignment, and then traded Nicasio to the Dodgers for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Anderson is under the care of Dr. Elliott Schwartz, a bone specialist based in Northern California who has treated other athletes who have stress fractures. Schwartz recommended that the Rockies take a conservative approach in bringing Anderson back.
Tags: Jeff Bridich, Tyler Anderson
