Brian Anderson to make his Miami Marlins debut

Dillon Peters will snag the majority of the debut headlines on Friday, but Brian Anderson’s is just as important.

The Miami Marlins could be entering the beginning of a new era at third base. After playing well at AAA New Orleans, Brian Anderson has been called up to the Major League level. He is set to make his debut on Friday against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Anderson’s promotion has been speculated for months. With roster expansion taking place on September 1st, the Marlins aren’t wasting any time getting him in the lineup. If he’s able to perform well over the next month, he could be penciled in as a starter in 2018.

Brian Anderson will finally get his opportunity to win a job in Major League Baseball.

It doesn’t come as a surprise that the Marlins are trying to get Anderson on the field. It was all but assured that he’d get an opportunity at some point during September. But Anderson is in the starting lineup on the first day of roster expansion. That was not expected.

It’s easy to forget that the Miami Marlins already have a highly paid third baseman on their roster. Martin Prado remains one of the most highly paid Marlins on the roster this season. He’s owed nearly $30 million over the next two season.

But he’s had a hard time staying on the field this season. Multiple injures have limited Prado to just 37-games this season. Even when he’s been on the field, he hasn’t performed well. Prado is posting the worst OBP of his career, and the second worst SLG% of his career.

The Marlins appeared ready to trade him away ahead of the deadline before another knee injury derailed trade talks.

Decisions loom

If Anderson is able to perform well, it has obvious ramifications elsewhere on the infield. Either Martin Prado or Dee Gordon would likely be on the move. But that’s a conversation for another time. It’s best not to get carried away before he’s taken a Major League at bat.

As a former third round selection, the Marlins have always been high on Brian Anderson. But it wasn’t until this season that he started to show readiness at the plate.

He’s a solid enough defender to stay at third base, but he isn’t a gold glove defender. Of course, Miami Marlins fielding coach Perry Hill has a way of turning sacks of potatoes into plus defenders. His bat is what got him here, and it will ultimately be what keeps him at the highest level.

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Like with Peters, it’s best not to expect too much from Anderson right away. The jump from AAA to Major League Baseball is a big one, and not everyone sets the baseball world on fire right away.

There is a lot to watch for on Friday night Marlins baseball.