NEW YORK -- The 2016 plan for Tim Anderson seemed fairly straightforward: Let the White Sox No. 2 prospect per MLBPipeline.com play the full season with Triple-A Charlotte in the International League and gain valuable experience before truly thinking about his Major League career.
But the talented 22-year-old seems to have other ideas concerning this plan.
With three hits over his past two games, the shortstop now features a batting average of .305 to go with 10 stolen bases and 32 runs scored in 47 contests. Outfielder J.B. Shuck, who rejoined the White Sox from Charlotte prior to Monday's series opener, raved about Anderson's offensive and defensive capabilities, and general manager Rick Hahn had a similar level of high praise.
"We talked not just with Timmy but with other guys about how the good ones sort of have a way of showing everybody what their time frame should be as opposed to sticking to a set schedule," Hahn said. "It certainly was our belief that Timmy had the potential to force that time frame, move off our original time frame of him likely spending the whole year in Charlotte.
"His month of May showed you he needs to be in that conversation. A few weeks back, I had a national reporter ask me if we were concerned about Tim Anderson, so again, things can turn fairly quickly. But he certainly had a great offensive and defensive month in May, and he's starting to force the issue a little bit."
Tyler Saladino and Jimmy Rollins currently anchor the White Sox shortstop position, with Saladino getting a second straight start on Wednesday and looking to be in line for more playing time. Anderson could provide a boost of energy to the White Sox postseason pursuit, based on his high-intensity style of play and being a homegrown prospect.
Anderson is not the lone White Sox prospect drawing interest.
Nicky Delmonico, who hit .338 with 10 homers and 31 RBIs in 38 games for Double-A Birmingham, has a .286 mark with one homer and three RBIs over seven games since his promotion to Charlotte. The 23-year-old left-handed hitter plays first base and third base, with Hahn adding that he will be tried in the Knights' outfield to increase that versatility.
"Nicky is swinging the bat well," Hahn said. "He got off to a fantastic start in Birmingham and has done well the first week or so in Charlotte, so [he's] an interesting guy. It's always nice to have another left-handed bat around, and perhaps a guy who has a little bit of versatility too."