Let’s talk about Ian Anderson’s long-awaited return to the mound for the Atlanta Braves.
If you’re a Braves fan, you probably remember Anderson as a key part of that 2021 World Series run—cool, collected, and absolutely dealing in the postseason.
But baseball is a game of ups and downs, and after nearly two years away from the big-league spotlight, Anderson is working his way back.
His Spring Training debut? A mixed bag, to say the least.
Shaky Start, But It’s Just Spring
What happened? Well, after cruising through a scoreless first inning, things got shaky in the second.
Anderson didn’t even make it out of the inning, allowing an earned run on one hit and three walks over 1 2/3 innings against the Tampa Bay Rays. Not exactly the dominant return Braves fans were hoping for, but let’s not hit the panic button just yet.
His fastball sat around 92-93 mph per The Athletic—right in line with what we saw from him in live batting practice last week—but the command just wasn’t there.
He threw 37 pitches, and only 17 of them were strikes. That’s 46%, which, let’s be honest, isn’t going to get the job done at any level.
It’s important to keep Spring Training in perspective. These games are about getting reps, shaking off rust, and making adjustments.
Pitchers experiment with different approaches, tinker with mechanics, and often aren’t throwing with the same intensity as they would in a regular-season game.
But the command issue? That’s something to watch as Anderson progresses through the spring.
From Braves World Series Hero to Injury Setback
The last time Anderson pitched in any Braves uniform was March 10, 2023—before undergoing Tommy John surgery.
That’s a long road back, and while he’s looked solid in side sessions and live BP, facing actual hitters in a game environment is a different animal.
For those who might’ve forgotten, Anderson was electric early in his career. Over his first 30 MLB starts, he posted a 3.25 ERA with 165 strikeouts in 160 2/3 innings.
And let’s not forget his ridiculous 1.59 ERA in the 2021 postseason, including a scoreless outing in the World Series. That’s the guy the Braves hope they’re getting back.
But 2022 was rough. His command started slipping, his ERA ballooned, and he eventually found himself back in the minors.
Then came the Tommy John surgery after just one Triple-A start in 2023, and everything started making more sense—he just wasn’t right. He spent the rest of the year rehabbing and slowly working his way back.
Signs of Progress, But More Work to Do
Anderson’s final stretch in Triple-A last season was promising—he finished with a 3.96 ERA overall, but in his last six starts, he posted a 3.03 ERA. In his final three? A stellar 2.11 ERA. That’s real progress.
The road back to Atlanta’s rotation won’t be easy. The Braves have a deep pitching staff, and Ian Anderson will have to prove he can command his stuff consistently.
But if he can regain even a fraction of the magic he had in 2021, he could be a major factor this season. His first outing of the spring was a little bumpy, but there’s still time to work out the kinks.
