ST. LOUIS -- At every stage of his development, Marlins prospect Brian Anderson has stood in good company.
He played high school ball in Oklahoma with Tigers right-hander Michael Fulmer, the 2016 American League Rookie of the Year Award winner. And at the University of Arkansas, he was a teammate of Red Sox rookie sensation Andrew Benintendi. In his first big league Spring Training, the 24-year-old had his locker next to legendary outfielder Ichiro Suzuki.
Today, the Double-A Jacksonville third baseman will stand among baseball's elite prospects as he represents the Marlins in the SiriusXM Futures Game at Marlins Park.
:: 2017 Futures Game coverage ::
"I believe this guy has got a chance to be a run producer," said Marc DelPiano, Miami's vice president of player development. "He's a guy who can hit -- hit for power. He has a chance to fit the bill of a pro-ball third baseman. He's just got to continue his development."
The 2017 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game takes place today at 4 p.m. ET at Marlins Park in Miami and can be viewed live on MLB Network and MLB.com.
Ranked by MLBPipeline.com as the Marlins' No. 3 prospect, Anderson projects to be a solid big league regular at third. After a slow start at Jacksonville, his slash line is now .258/.345/.460 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs.
Anderson will be on the United States team today. The Marlins have two players in the game, with right-hander Tayron Guerrero, rated as the organization's No. 17 prospect, on the World squad.
Anderson opened eyes during Spring Training, and he picked up pointers daily from the Miami veterans, such as Ichiro.
"Ichiro was just an incredible role model for anybody who is trying to establish a good routine and stay in the game a long time," Anderson said. "His locker was right next to mine, and I'd see how he'd prepare his mind and his body for a normal Spring Training day. It's just incredible. You can see why that guy has lasted so long in the game, and he is so athletic at his age."
Anderson has shown he's belonged no matter where he's played. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder was a shortstop at Deer Creek High School in Edmond, Okla. He played behind Fulmer. In 2010, they played Carl Albert High of Midwest City, Okla.
Carl Albert had a catcher that day named J.T. Realmuto, now the Marlins' regular catcher. Realmuto homered over the batter's eye off Fulmer that day.
"I remember, he hit, like, a 1-2 hanging curveball from Mike, and he hit it to dead center," Anderson said. "I was like, 'Man, this guy can really hit.' Look at him now.
"It's crazy how it works. We're not even the biggest schools in Oklahoma, and just to see guys you played against in one game my junior year in high school and see where these guys are right now, it's pretty incredible, honestly."
Realmuto even pitched in that game, and he recalls Anderson getting a hit off of him.
"He was a stud player back then," Realmuto said. "After watching him play in high school, I knew he was going to be a good player. When we drafted him out of Arkansas, I thought it was pretty cool to get another Oklahoma guy."