Anderson might be key to future

MIAMI — The rebuilding Marlins might have found their third baseman of the future. Or their right fielder.

It’s the same player: Brian Anderson, who has blossomed into a contender for NL rookie of the year.

Anderson began the week batting .282 with eight home runs and a team-high 49 RBIs. It’s increasingly clear he’ll be one of CEO Derek Jeter’s rebuilding blocks.

He was a third baseman in the minors and began this season at that position. But when veteran third baseman Martin Prado returned from an injury in late April, Anderson was moved to right field.

He has thrived in the outfield, winning raves for his strong arm. And he continues to hit.

“I just try to stay as even keel as possible,” says Anderson, 25.

He has been in the majors only since last September, which is why manager Don Mattingly tempers his praise.

“This guy is solid,” Mattingly says. “He had a heck of a first half. We’ll see what happens here the second half.”

Critiques are only positive. Anderson has been a plus de- fender in right, as he was at third base. He hits to all fields with pop, and began the week with 34 extra-base hits and an average of .404 with runners in scoring position. He ranks among the leading rookies in the majors in average, on-base percentage, slugging and RBIs.

Teammates praise his mature, professional approach.

“He has that old-school mentality, which is to hang around and ask questions and talk about baseball,” Prado says. “It’s rare in this generation to see guys with that mentality at that stage. In the years to come he’s going to be a really solid player.”