The Story of Ryan Anderson

Ryan Anderson's Rookie Card in 1998

Anderson (center) in 1999 Spring Training

In June, 1997, the Seattle Mariners drafted a 6 foot 11 pitcher named Ryan Anderson out of Divine Child High School in East Lansing, Michigan. He was nicknamed "The Little Unit"  because of his similar size & pitching ability to 2015 Hall of Fame Inductee Randy Johnson. But, a day after pitching batting practice to the Mariners at the Kingdome, Anderson was quoted in newspapers talking how he "dominated" the big leaguers. Copies of the story made the clubhouse bulletin board as well as then-outfielder Ken Griffey Jr.'s locker, according to The Seattle Times.

There was also a box of baseballs, with a typewritten note to Anderson that read, "Will you sign the case of baseballs from, 'The Greatest Player of All Time?' "

Griffey's best friend Jay Buhner later said: "That kid has got to learn you don't go saying (expletive) like that, at least not in his position." Anderson has no comment on the incident these days.

By 2000, Anderson had worked his way up to the Mariners' Class AAA team in Tacoma, Wash., figuring he would be in the big leagues in 2001. He pitched in the Futures Game — a minor league All-Star game in conjunction with the big-league All-Star Game — and made 20 starts for the Rainiers in '00, tossing 12.6 strikeouts a game, best in the minors that season. After the season Anderson was named the #2 prospect in baseball behind Josh Hamilton (now with the Texas Rangers). 

Then it all went down the drain.

In July 2000, Anderson's shoulder problems started overnight. A day after striking out 13 batters in 6 2/3 innings against the Las Vegas 51's, he tried to play catch.

"Instead of 80 feet, I could only throw 10 feet," he says. "I was throwing 93-99 (mph) in the game, and I didn't feel anything. I thought I had slept on it wrong. You know how your arm feels when you sleep on it wrong? This felt 10 times worse."

He was never the same.

He had surgery for a torn rotator cuff that sidelined him for the 2001 season. In 2002, he had a torn shoulder labrum and a second surgery, wiping out 2002. The problems continued and Tommy John surgery was needed when Anderson gave up the dream in 2003.

"That kid had great talent, and there was always a lot of talk about him during Spring Training," says New York Yankees Third Baseman/Designated Hitter Alex Rodriguez, a former Mariner. "He was supposed to be the next Randy Johnson, and it never worked out that way, which was a shame. I remember he threw hard. He was a big guy and he pitched that way. He would always open your eyes during spring training."

Now, at age 35, Ryan Anderson is a sous chef on Food Network's Iron Chef America. Obviously, it's easy to spot him because he's the tallest one.

At this point, cooking clearly has his attention, but Anderson has not forgotten baseball.

"Maybe in a couple of years, I'll give it another shot," he says. "I made mistakes. Of course, I'd like to be 18 again. Wouldn't everybody?"

UPDATE 10/13: 

I recently found a quote from Ryan Anderson in a sushi article for an online food magazine. Here is that quote: 

"The Japanese want the vegetables to taste like vegetables, and along with appreciating the taste, they understand the health benefits of making vegetables such an important part of the cuisine," said sous chef Ryan Anderson.

The story of Ryan Anderson leaving baseball's frustrations behind for a career in being a sous chef for Iron Chef America is an odd one, for sure. The man's still at it. It's a weird sensation to read his name in this context. He could've been so much. He could've been the best pitcher in the game of baseball (aside from Felix Hernandez, of course). Could you imagine a pitching rotation that included Felix Hernandez & Ryan Anderson? The Mariners would have been an incredible team! 
Ryan Anderson. It's not tragic. That isn't the word. He quit doing one thing his body couldn't do in order to do something else that it can. But, those statistics, my god. Ryan Anderson, today, is 35 years old. He's the same age as Aaron Harang and Cliff Lee! Although it's great for Ryan Anderson that he found something he's good at, I think that baseball's worse off without the career he could've and should've had. But cooking isn't a bad 2nd choice either.