48. Ryan Anetsberger

48. Ryan Anetsberger - 1B/3B - 6'2 - 210lbs - Throws: Right - Bats: Right
(last year: 47)

A 15^th round pick out of Illinois State University in the 2007 draft, the Marlins felt like they got a bit of a sleeper on their hands in Ryan Anetsberger. When he first showed up on the Illinois State campus, he was a thin shortstop known more for his glove than his bat. Ryan eventually grew into his frame at the hot corner and turned himself into a legit bat with good gap power. The glove and arm combination was still there too.

The Marlins liked how he looked in the Cape Cod League, and were more impressed after he was named the MVP at the National Baseball Congress World Series from another summer league. In his final season at Illinois State, Ryan hit .328/.398/.484 with 5 homeruns in 186 at bats. That performance got him named to the 2^nd team All-Missouri Valley Conference. The Marlins decided to skip the Gulf Coast League with him and have him go straight to short season Jamestown once he signed. In 222 at bats with the Jammers, he hit .266/.331/.446 with 7 homeruns and was selected to the NYPL All Star Team.

Anetsberger spent the year in Greensboro and put up disappointing results. He couldn’t hit for average and he didn’t show signs of slugging in a hitter’s paradise but he did show a positive walk rate. His season was cut to only 69 games because of nagging injuries including a broken bone in his right hand. 2009 is going to be a big year for Ryan. He’s now moved to 1^st base because of Matt Dominguez and he’s going to be playing in a much harder setting for hitters, the Florida State League. It will be interesting to see if he can finally put things together here as a 23 year old down in Jupiter.