Sox fill need with shortstop pick

Alexei Ramirez has been a solid, all-around shortstop for the White Sox since 2008, and he’s signed through ‘15.

After Ramirez, there aren’t really any shortstops of note in the Sox’ system.

That changed Thursday when the Sox used their 17th overall pick on the first round of the amateur draft to grab Tim Anderson from East Central Community College in Decatur, Miss.

“We had him lined up with pretty much college pitching and guys in the middle of the field we felt were impact type of guys,” said Doug Laumann, the White Sox’ director of amateur scouting. “It turned out we got the one we felt was the biggest impact. We also filled a need we thought was going to be something we needed moving forward.”

Anderson, 19, batted .495 for East Central C.C. this season with 10 home runs, 11 triples, 18 doubles, 62 runs scored and 41 stolen bases.

Also a standout basketball player at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala., the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Anderson received only one collegiate offer to play baseball, and that was from East Central.

He’s athletic enough to play in the outfield, and scouts are confident Anderson will hit for more power as he develops.

Anderson hopes to stay in the infield.

“I see myself as a shortstop,” he said. “A lot of people doubt me but I want to prove them wrong and stay at shortstop. I’m not a complete player yet, but one day I will be in the White Sox organization.”

Said Laumann: “Tim is a very athletic player who, although we didn’t target a specific position, certainly fits a need in the middle of the diamond. He is an exciting top-of-the-order type player who is a game changer with great ability to create offense at a key position on the field.”