Tyler Anderson overcame “dark” times en route to outstanding debut

DENVER – “Time stopped for a second,” on Sunday evening for Colorado Rockies left-hander Tyler Anderson as he walked off the mound at 20th and Blake for the first time. He had just worked into the seventh inning of the ballgame; his MLB debut.

In the 26-year-old’s first start, he hurled six-and-one-third innings, striking out six on 92 pitches while only allowing one run on six hits. Anderson became just the third in franchise history to strike out six or more in his MLB debut at Coors field and the seventh to record a quality start.

The club’s 2011 first-round pick out of the University of Oregon hasn’t had an easy road to the big leagues. He missed the entire 2015 season due to an elbow fracture in his throwing arm. And just when he seemed primed to join the big club this spring training, an oblique injury sidelined him yet again.

“It’s unbelievable,” Anderson said. “It took a long time to get here (which makes it) that much more enjoyable.”

The Oregon Ducks’ all-time career strikeout leader was drafted 20th overall by the Rockies after spending four years in Eugene. He ascended through the minors without a hiccup displaying his talent at each stop. That was until 2014. Anderson turned himself into a lefty that was to be feared.

That season with the Tulsa Drillers he threw 118 innings with a 1.98 ERA, striking out 106 batters while sporting a cool WHIP of 1.110. His dominant performance netted him a 7-4 record, and also saw him capture the Texas League Pitcher of The Year award. Unfortunately for Anderson, right when the Double-A playoffs came, his elbow failed him.

But Anderson was still placed on the 40-man roster that offseason, which protected him from other clubs. This signaled that whatever physical issues he was experiencing and even though it would take a while for him to return, the Rockies maintained their faith in his underlying talent.

He did miss the entirety of 2015 but it looked as though he would factor into the Rockies plans for 2016. Coming into spring training he was in a fight for the long man role out of the bullpen, and a dark horse to crack the rotation. Leaving spring training, he was on the disabled list once again.

“Spring training, it got dark real quick,” Anderson told of his long road. “Because I was excited and feeling good then another thing, and I didn’t know when it was going to go away. I’m just happy to be back.”

Anderson has been working his way back for over a month now, making rehab outings and starts in the minors while hoping his chance at becoming a big leaguer didn’t elude him. Fortunately, he still had it, and blew right through the minors, making six starts with a 2-2 record and a 2.35 ERA while fanning 30.

“We thought highly of this kid for a long time the way he handles himself,” manger Walt Weiss explained. “He thinks at a different level, he always has, and he prepares at a different level. All that stuff has paid off.”

Last night was the night Anderson and the Rockies had been waiting on for quite some time.

“I don’t know if you can get any better than,” Weiss said. “Heck, he didn’t know he was starting until last night, it’s quite a statement… He doesn’t waver, we’ve known that about him, he doesn’t give in. That type of makeup, that type of competitor, those are the things we look for here.”

The Colorado starter got into a bit of trouble in his first inning, allowing two singles but worked out of it with a groundball.

“It went a little quick, there was definitely some nerves,” the Las Vegas native said. “More excitement than nerves. It was really cool. Right above the bullpen, my whole family was there and my coaches from Oregon and it really helped calm me down.”

The rookie would go on to set down the next nine straight.

“Talk about a tough assignment coming in and pitching like that, that’s big-time stuff,” Weiss told. “He didn’t walk a guy, kept it down in the zone, his changeup was a difference maker. He had all of his weapons working great command. What-a-debut.”

It’s hard to say where Anderson fits long term or even the rest of this season with the juggling act the rotation has been. But Anderson is one of many Rockies prospects that have superior talent compared to what this organization has seen before. His debut was not only a big personal moment but it was a signal for the Rockies that these talented youngsters are coming, and coming quickly.

“In my dreams I always had, I never really got past my first pitch so I don’t know,” he said of envisioning this day. “Getting there was the hardest part. Coming off the mound and seeing all the fans here today, time stopped for a second.”