The Draft: Oregon LHP Tyler Anderson.

   Today we make our second stop in the State of Oregon to check out a LHP in our quest to discern who the Reds will select Monday in the MLB Draft. Earlier, we paid a visit to Oregon State’s Josh Osich. Today, we look at Oregon’s Tyler Anderson.

   Jonathan Mayo’s and Keith Law’s latest mock drafts have the Reds taking Anderson. Rumors abound that Cincinnati is looking for a left-handed college pitcher.

   A junior, Anderson (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) has been atop the Ducks rotation since he stepped on campus. Oregon’s all-time strikeout leader, he has gone 8-3 with a 2.17 ERA. In 107 2/3 innings, Anderson has allowed 73 hits, struck out 114 and walked 35. He has allowed just two home runs and foes batted .201.

   A native of Las Vegas, Anderson went 7-5 with a 2.98 ERA as s sophomore. As a freshman, he was 2-9 with a 6.56 ERA. Last summer with Team USA, Anderson threw 16 scoreless innings, struck out 16 and walked three. Baseball America ranked him the No. 8 prospect on the national team.

   Athletic, Anderson’s primary asset is his feel for pitching. He competes hard, isn’t afraid to pitch inside to right-handers or left-handers and takes a businesslike approach. Anderson throws five pitches for strikes, working off two-seam and four-seam fastballs that range from 88 to 93 m.p.h., but that have touched 95. Both fastballs feature above average movement and arm-side run. His changeup also rates above average. Anderson’s slider is a better pitch than his curve, but both offer good bite and have a chance to be slightly above average. He maintains his velocity deep into games.

   Anderson repeats his delivery, which includes an odd leg kick, almost double clutching just before his foot hits the ground. The delivery doesn’t hamper his control, however, and adds a bit of deception.

   A 50th-round draft pick by the Twins in 2008, Anderson is polished, has a calm mound presence, possesses a strong work ethic and projects to move quickly through the minors. Described by his pitching coach as “effectively wild” and a “one-and-a-half pitch” guy early in Anderson’s career, the big lefty rapidly developed his command and now offers three quality secondary pitches. While he can be guilty of nibbling, Anderson effectively paints the corners. He fields well and is adept at holding runners.

   Anderson has produced a mixed bag of offerings this season. He was brilliant in his final start, allowing four hits, walking two and striking out 10 in 7 1/3 innings of a 4-1 victory over sixth-ranked Oregon State. A week earlier, however, Anderson lasted just 4 1/3 innings and allowed eight earned runs in a 12-6 loss to unranked Washington State.

   Anderson was so-so in a 7-1 loss to UCLA and potential top pick Gerrit Cole and in a 5-2 loss to No. 15 Arizona State. He was dominant, though, in a complete-game victory over No. 23 Arizona and in a 12-2 rout of 20th-ranked California. Anderson also owns quality victories over Long Beach State, Stanford, Wichita State, USC and San Diego.

   As a freshman, Anderson beat Stanford, 2-1. As a sophomore, he beat the 22nd-ranked Cardinal again, threw a complete-game victory against No. 1 Arizona State and beat No. 4 Cal State-Fullerton.

   A Political Science major, Anderson ranks as the 24th-best player available by Baseball America.