MVN: Most Valuable Network

Lars Anderson - Red Sox first baseman

Age: 21
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 210
Bats: Left
Position: First Base

Relevant Statistics: Anderson, the Red Sox's best positional prospect, was promoted to Double-A Portland midway through the year and amassed 133 at-bats. He hit .316/.436/.526 with 5 home runs and many scouts feel he could play in the majors immediately.

Scouting Report: Anderson possesses the classic power hitter's frame and has unlimited power potential. Some scouts have said that he will be a perennial 40-homer guy. He has an excellent eye at the plate but whiffs a bit too frequently, although he has made slight improvements in that area. There is no true drawback to his game. He runs as well as can be expected and holds his own in the field.

Resume: Anderson was picked out of high school and bonus demands allowed the Sox to scoop him up in the 18th round of 2006. At age 19, Lars spent the bulk of the year in mid-A Greenville where he hit .288/.385/.443. He hasn't looked back since. In a small cup of coffee with Lancaster that year, he posted a .975 OPS. Returning to Lancaster, a hitter's paradise, in 2008, he hammered 13 homers while posting a .317/.408/.513 line and earning a promotion to Portland. He is reportedly someone with a strong work ethic, who takes direction and learns quickly. He is extremely intelligent, as this interview shows. He goes to the opposite field frequently (perfect for a lefty at Fenway) but can pull the ball when he needs to.

Outlook: Anderson could force the Red Sox to trade Mike Lowell as early as 2010, or could take over left-field (as Peter Gammons theorizes; Anderson played two years of left in high school) for Jason Bay. There's no limit to his game. His worst-case scenario is a long, fruitful year as an average first-baseman, and those players make quite a bit of money. His most likely scenario has him making multiple All-Star Games while his best-case scenario has him as an utter lock for the Hall of Fame.

Ranking: MinorLeagueBaseball.com ranks Anderson as the 25th best prospect in baseball, while Baseball America has him at No. 1 for the Red Sox. Last year, Baseball America ranked him No. 40. By year's end, he should be a consensus Top 10.

Bottom Line: He has a very real chance at being the next big young slugger.