Ian Anderson was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, days after being designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Angels. Anderson was drafted by the Braves in 2016 and traded to the Angels in March.

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Days after being designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Angels, former Shenendehowa High School standout Ian Anderson returned to where he started his professional career, as the Atlanta Braves claimed him off waivers.

Anderson was traded from the Braves to the Angels in March. He appeared in seven games for Los Angeles out of the bullpen, posting an 11.57 earned run average with eight strikeouts and seven walks over 9 ⅓ innings. His most recent outing came this past Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, when he surrendered three hits, three earned runs and a walk while striking out one in one inning of work.

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The 26-year-old right-hander made his debut with the Angels on April 1 against the St. Louis Cardinals, tossing a scoreless inning of relief in a 9-7, 11-inning win. That was Anderson’s first appearance in Major League Baseball since August 2022.

Previously a top prospect in the Braves’ organization, Anderson underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2023. He returned from injury with 15 minor league starts in 2024 before being traded to Los Angeles at the end of spring training in exchange for left-hander Jose Suarez.

The No. 3 overall pick by Atlanta in the 2016 MLB Draft, Anderson made his MLB debut in 2020 and was instrumental in the Braves’ run to the 2021 World Series championship, throwing five hitless innings in Game 3 against the Houston Astros. In high school, he led Shenendehowa to a 2016 Class AA state title alongside his twin brother Ben, now in the Texas Rangers’ organization, and future NBA guard Kevin Huerter.

Anderson owns a career 22-14 record with a 4.22 ERA and 270 strikeouts in 281 ⅔ MLB innings.

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April 27, 2025|Updated April 27, 2025 7:10 p.m.