June 15, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - After being drafted by the Seattle Mariners Saturday, recent Penn State graduate Jack Anderson (Evanston, Ill.) has signed with the organization and will be assigned to its Class-A Short Season affiliate in the Northwest League, the Everett Aquasox.
Anderson was selected by the Mariners in the 23rd round with the 687th pick. The Aquasox are located in Everett, Washington, approximately 30 miles north of Seattle. They open their season Friday at the Tri-City Dust Devils in Pasco, Wash.
"I greatly appreciate Penn State for everything the University and its members have given me throughout my career," said Anderson. "The Penn State baseball program took a chance on me four years ago and I was immediately surrounded by great people. The Seattle Mariners are now taking a chance on me and I am blessed to have the opportunity to continue my baseball career at the professional level. I want to thank Penn State, my teammates, coaches, and everyone involved in the program because without them I would be nowhere. I will always be a proud Nittany Lion."
Anderson was a mainstay at the back-end of games for Penn State, setting new career standards for the program in saves with 25 and appearances with 98. In 165 2/3 career innings pitched, he never allowed a home run. His senior season in 2016 was his finest, and he was named to the All-Big Ten third team. He set Penn State's single-season record for saves with 13 to tie for the Big Ten lead and totaled a career-best 2.14 ERA in 54 2/3 innings pitched, just a third of an inning shy of being eligible to qualify amongst the league leaders for ERA. Of his 29 appearances on the year, which tied for the second most in program history and second in the league this year, only five were for an inning or less.
Anderson was also successful in the classroom, earning Academic All-District honors (as selected by the Collegiate Sports Information Directors of America) and Academic All-Big Ten honors. He graduated from Penn State's Smeal College of Business with a degree in supply chain and information systems in May.
Anderson was one of two Nittany Lions selected in the 2016 MLB draft, as junior Jim Haley was selected in the 19th round with the 570th overall pick by the Tampa Bay Rays.