MINNEAPOLIS -- Jack Anderson, a 26-year-old righty who had dreamed since Little League about making his Major League debut, surely didn’t expect that it would happen on Tuesday night at Target Field.
Anderson wasn’t even on Boston’s 40-man roster when the day started.
But when ace Garrett Crochet lasted just 1 1/3 innings in Monday night’s 13-6 loss, the Sox needed some innings.
So they called on Anderson, who wound up getting those innings just hours after arriving in Minneapolis from Nashville, where Triple-A Worcester is playing this week.
With his wife, mom and dad cheering him on vocally from the stands, Anderson walked to the mound in the bottom of the fifth inning and proceeded to strike out the side in order, sending down Matt Wallner, Victor Caratini and Kody Clemens.
Through NESN’s well-placed microphone and camera, you could see and hear his cheering section roaring with approval after the first punchout. The baseball went into the dugout for safekeeping.
“Yeah, excitement,” said Anderson. “It's a big moment, and just the emotions that come with it, and I had butterflies, a lot of excitement. I was just trying to stay under control and calm out there.”
On a night the Red Sox lost, 6-0, Anderson, who gave up one hit (a solo homer) and one walk while striking out four over three innings, provided a welcome bright spot.
“Shoot, amazing,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “He hopped on a plane, got here, the game goes that way and he struck out the side. Those are the cool things as a manager, watching a guy just get out there and perform. He threw a lot of strikes, and he gave us what we needed in a tough situation, and kind of saved the bullpen for tomorrow.”
It was the second feel-good debut story the Sox have had within the span of the last week.
On April 8, lefty Tyler Samaniego was called on to make his Major League debut at the age of 26, and he pitched the same day he arrived at Fenway – striking out three in his first career inning in his team’s win over the Brewers and dedicating the performance to his late father.
Samaniego turned in two more scoreless outings on the road trip, but he was the odd man out when Anderson got the call.
Anderson was a 16th-round pick by the Tigers in the 2021 Draft. The Red Sox procured him in the Triple-A phase of the 2024 Rule 5 Draft.
Worcester manager Chad Tracy told Anderson of the news on Monday night. At the time, he had been chilling and watching YouTube with his roommate Noah Song.
“I couldn’t get words out until the third breath and then said, ‘Are you serious?’ It would have been a pretty bad joke. I finally got words out,” said Anderson. “I don't remember a lot of the phone call, honestly, but it was a really great experience. I think every kid that starts playing baseball, this is the day you dream about, and when it comes, it's just a feeling you can't really put into words.”
Not only did Anderson put it into words, but he put it into action on Tuesday with a strong debut.