Anderson has memorable April for Chicago White Sox
At the start of April, Tim Anderson missed two games in Cleveland to be with his wife, Bria, for the birth of the couple's second child.
He missed the Chicago White Sox's April 19 game at Detroit while serving a one-game suspension for using a "racially charged" word two days earlier during a near brawl against the Royals.
After hitting a 2-run homer off Kansas City starter Brad Keller, Anderson launched his bat in celebration, aiming it at his own dugout. It is still the most talked about moment in the major leagues this season.
Keller didn't like the show of emotion, and he drilled Anderson in the backside with the first pitch in his next at-bat. That emptied the benches and led to the suspension.
Anderson also missed three games due to weather postponements, including Tuesday night's washout against the Baltimore Orioles.
When he did play in April, the Sox's 25-year-old infielder was a force. Anderson is very likely going to be voted American League Player of the Month.
"I'm being me," Anderson said Monday. "Doing my job. Doing what I'm supposed to do and helping my teammates win ballgames."
Anderson hit a 2-run homer against the Orioles on Monday night to help the White Sox (12-14) win their third straight.
As the season moves into May, he leads the American League with a .375 batting average and was leading the majors with 10 stolen bases in as many tries through Monday's play.
Anderson leads the Sox with a 1.123 OPS, is tied for the club lead with 6 home runs, and he ranks third with 18 RBI.
"We're hoping that, like the other kids continuing to develop, that everyone is coming in saying, 'Man, these guys are pretty good,' " White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "(Anderson) is putting himself in that class right now.
"He has worked very hard. He's coming into his own. He's understanding who he is. I have no doubt when pitchers face him they know if there is a mistake to be had there, he might be able to take advantage of it. His approaches are very good.
"He's a five-tool kid. Truly, he has power, he can hit for average right now, he can go in the hole deep and make a nice play, he can range, he can run.
"As he continues to mature both in his game and between the lines, he's going to have a lot to offer in his game."
Anderson started showing flashes of greatness last year, becoming the first shortstop in Sox history to have 20 or more home runs and stolen bases in the same season.
A first-round draft pick (No. 17 overall) in 2013, when he was better known for his basketball skills, Anderson finally proved he can play shortstop last season when he made just 10 errors in his final 110 games.
This season, Anderson is taking his all-around game to an even higher level and having a blast along the way.
"It's different, different vibes," he said. "We're going to bring a lot of energy and keep being electric. That's the goal, man, go out and have a fun and play with a lot of passion, and I think the rest will follow along."