Drew Anderson of the Detroit Tigers, who had played for the SSG Landers, celebrated his first major league win in five years.
Anderson entered as the team's second pitcher in the away game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, on the 1st (Korean time), throwing 31 pitches over two innings, allowing one hit, one walk, striking out two and giving up no runs, and earned the win. It was Anderson's first win of the season and his first since returning to the major leagues. His earned run average fell from 6.60 to 5.82.
A native of Nevada, Drew Anderson signed with the Philadelphia Phillies in the 21st round of the 2012 draft and went on to the Chicago White Sox and the Texas Rangers through 2021. In the 2021 minor league Triple-A season he made 15 appearances (12 starts), logging 70 2/3 innings with a 4-5 record and a 3.06 ERA, and the following year he donned the Hiroshima Toyo Carp uniform in NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball).
In NPB he appeared in a total of 34 first‑team games (19 starts) over two seasons, pitching 115 innings with a 7-5 record and a 3.05 ERA. He then returned to the country and moved to the Detroit Tigers, and in May 2024 he debuted in the KBO League in an SSG uniform as Robert Dugger's replacement.
Anderson, who appeared in 24 games in 2024 and pitched 115 2/3 innings, went 11-3 with a 3.89 ERA and succeeded in re-signing with SSG. Last year he also served as the ace, posting 30 appearances, 171 2/3 innings, a 12-7 record and a 2.25 ERA. He recorded a whopping 245 strikeouts, showcasing overpowering stuff.
Recognized for his performance in Korea, Anderson returned to the United States after the 2025 season by signing a contract with Detroit that included $7 million guaranteed for one year and a $10 million club option for the 2027 season. Although his start was rocky—registering an 11.57 ERA in two March appearances—he has steadily appeared in games and gradually found stability.
Anderson, who entered in the bottom of the seventh with Detroit trailing 1-2, handled Mike Yastrzemski with a grounder to first and struck out Eli White looking. He then gave up a double to Ronald Acuña Jr. and intentionally walked Drake Baldwin, creating a runner at first and second, but he retired Ozzie Albies on a grounder to second to end the inning without allowing a run.
After Detroit rallied for a 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth, Anderson returned to the mound in the bottom of the inning, getting Matt Olson to ground out to second, striking out Austin Riley, and retiring Mauricio Dubón on a fly out to second to finish the inning cleanly. Detroit added two more runs in the top of the ninth to take a 5-2 victory.
Anderson's last major league win had come on Sept. 19, 2021, against the Texas Rangers; he earned the relief victory that day with three innings and one run allowed, marking his first win in 1,685 days, roughly five years.
[OSEN]