A little namesake inspiration
Anderson draws from those who came before him
MIAMI — Growing up in Edmond, Okla., at least three hours from the nearest major league city, the dream of someday becoming a big leaguer was more realistic for Brian Anderson than it was for his friends — or so it felt.
In his baseball-watching childhood, there were two other Brian Andersons who played in the majors, one a pitcher and one an outfielder. And, hey, if those guys with his name made it, why couldn’t he?
“It’s almost like you see yourself. Oh, there’s a Brian Anderson up there. Maybe that’ll be me one day,” Anderson said. “It’s a pretty cool experience, seeing a guy with your name. That said, it also makes you realize you’re really common, so you’re not going to stand out much with your name.”
Anderson, the Miami Marlins’ third baseman, stood out enough anyway to earn his first major league call-up this month, becoming the third Brian Anderson in major league history. Out of the 19,169 players ever to play in the bigs, Brian Anderson is tied with several others as the 14th most common name, according to Baseball Reference.
(Mike Smith, Bob Smith and John Sullivan are tied for first with five appearances apiece. Then come 10, including Dave Roberts and Ben Taylor, with four players per name.)
Before the Marlins’ Brian Anderson, there was a lefthanded pitcher who debuted in 1993, the year the Miami rookie was born. He played 13 seasons for the Angels, Indians, Diamondbacks and Royals. Now, he’s a Rays color analyst for Fox Sports Sun.
The newest Brian Anderson remembers being 8 years old and watching the original win the 2001 World Series with Arizona. He started Game 3, the first World Series game in New York after Sept. 11.
Brian Anderson the pitcher’s big league career ended in May 2005, three months before Brian Anderson the outfielder made it to the majors. He was a highly regarded prospect who never quite panned out, but nonetheless played in five major league seasons for the White Sox and, for a portion of his final year, the Red Sox.
Brian Anderson the third baseman saw the outfielder play at what was then U.S. Cellular Field during a trip to Chicago one summer, among the few major league games he had been to before this month.
“Especially when you’re a kid, you’re like, that guy’s got my name. I can definitely play,” Anderson said.
There was also a catcher named Bryan Anderson, who played in 40 games from 2010-15 for three teams. But because he’s a Bryan, not a Brian, he doesn’t help Brian Anderson climb the ranks of baseball’s most popular names.
The Marlins’ Brian Anderson isn’t the only one in his circle who has to deal with a common name. His fiancée is Alex Smith, a name she shares with the Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback. And her father is Steve Smith, like two recent NFL wide receivers (and who knows how many others).
“I fall into that boring name category,” Anderson said.
Odds & ends
Infielder Miguel Rojas said an MRI on his left shoulder revealed a small rotator cuff tear. “It’s nothing that’s going to keep me off the field,” he said. Rojas, who went 2-for-4 with his first homer of the season Wednesday afternoon, expects to be fine after rest and treatment in the offseason. …
Left-hander Chris O’Grady was pleased to be activated from the disabled list Tuesday, several days earlier than anticipated after his rehab for his strained right oblique went smoothly. O’Grady pitched a scoreless inning Wednesday, allowing a hit and a walk.