Antonio Anderson awaits MLB draft, aims for Hall of Fame
ATLANTA (BVM) – When North Atlanta High School baseball star Antonio Anderson was little, he had his choice of which sports to play in a small part of his basement. While he had his choice among such athletics as basketball, boxing and karate but baseball stood out even to the 2-year-old.
“Baseball always just stuck with me, swinging a plastic bat on a whiffle ball tee in the basement,” Anderson said. “Ever since then I kept sticking with it and kept loving it.”
Now, the standout athlete is mere months away from potentially making his lifelong dream of being selected in the MLB draft a reality. Anderson is one of the top prep prospects in this year’s MLB draft class, ranking as high as No. 58 by Prospects Live and No. 85 by ESPN. Given his potential as a high-round draft pick, Anderson is understandably thrilled about his potential selection in July.
“I’m very excited, very anxious. I can’t wait to see if my name is called,” Anderson said. “That would be a blessing, a dream come true. I’ve been thinking about it since I was a little kid. I can’t wait to see how my future goes.”
Of course, Anderson didn’t just become a standout baseball player, he had to earn it. After back-to-back seasons as the Region 4-6A player of the year, Anderson was named to the Perfect Game Dick’s Sporting Goods All-American Classic at Chase Field in Phoenix last August. As one of the country’s top prospect games in prep baseball, the PG All-American Classic has had over 270 MLB All-Stars play in the game and 261 future first-round picks.
“It definitely was a blessing, a dream since I was little and watched the first game when I was 10 or 11,” Anderson said. “I saw one of my boys [former Westlake High School standout] Myles Austin play in it in 2019 and I always said when I was a senior I hope I can play in that game. I just kept working and working and it was a blessing to be there for sure.”
Antonio Anderson (‘23, GA) #PGAAC @PG_Georgia https://t.co/DE8Rk6FiEV pic.twitter.com/jbDMHQbE9W
— Dick’s Sporting Goods All-American Classic (@PGAllAmerican) August 27, 2022
Anderson was able to hold his own against his peers as he got a taste of life as an MLB player.
“It was a different feeling, you want to feel like that all the time,” Anderson said. “It felt like I was already in the big leagues, playing in a big league stadium against and with the top players in the world. I felt I stacked up pretty well. I’m a confident guy and I feel I played well.”
The shortstop continued this positive trend throughout his senior season with the Warriors. During the year, Anderson hit .438 with a 1.246 OPS, 51 RBIs and six home runs as he led his North Atlanta team to a 27-7 record, the most successful regular season in the program’s history and their first-ever region title.
“I think it was great, I don’t think it could’ve gone any better unless we won the state championship,” Anderson said. “We definitely made history for the school. I had a great year.”
This team had an amazing season and is arguably one of the most talented teams the City of Atlanta has ever seen. Please join APS Baseball in celebrating their historic season. pic.twitter.com/CzuhR78Tg1
— APS Baseball Prospects (@ApsBaseball) May 2, 2023
For his efforts, Anderson was named the region player of the year once again, establishing himself as one of the best players in Warriors program history.
“It means a lot,” Anderson said. “Ninth grade we had COVID so I couldn’t get that four years in a row but seeing that I could stay consistent doing the same thing every year is a blessing.”
This kid was a leader for our program and was always ready to play. Hitting .438, 1.246 OPS, 51 RBI, 6HR is the Region 4-6A Player of the Year! 2023 SS & @GTBaseball commit @Antonio81797737!! pic.twitter.com/wbS0itXRJQ
— NAHS Baseball (@NAHS_Baseball) May 16, 2023
If Anderson decides to wait on his jump to MLB, he won’t have to go far for his college career. That’s because the shortstop is committed to Georgia Tech, a program in his hometown of Atlanta. While the proximity played a big role in his decision to join the Yellow Jackets, so did the team’s coaching staff, especially associate head coach James Ramsey who made a deep connection with the athlete.
“The city is my hometown, it’s right up the street,” Anderson said. “Ramsey makes it feel like he’s your friend and there’s no other coach like him. I can talk to him about anything: shoes, life, not even just baseball anything. All the coaches over there do a good job of building relationships with their players and that just did it for me.”
Regardless of whether he stays in Atlanta and suits up for Georgia Tech or makes the leap to the MLB through the draft, Anderson is ready to prove himself as a player. He feels that he has the right skill set to make an immediate impact wherever he lands.
“I definitely think I’m a five-tool player,” Anderson said. “I’m a general on the field even though I’m laid back and calm. I like to stay even-keeled, not get too high or too low, I like to keep my teammates up and have fun and I definitely like to win.”
Given his confidence and skills on the diamond, Anderson has his sights set on an eventual spot in Cooperstown.
“[I want to] be a Hall of Famer, break a lot of records and show the kids under me it’s possible, nothing is impossible,” Anderson said. “Anything is possible, don’t give up through hard times, failure comes with baseball.”
