CHICAGO (670 The Score) – White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson had a bright moment in a trying season Sunday.
Anderson recorded his 1,000th career hit in the White Sox’s 3-2 loss to the Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field, a milestone that caused him to reflect on his journey.
"It took a lot of hard work in the toughest league,” Anderson said. “To reach that is pretty cool, for sure.”
Anderson has struggled across the past two seasons in part because of nagging injuries. In 2023, he’s suffering through the worst MLB season of his career, hitting .242 with a .career-low 584 OPS and just one homer in 103 games.
In an interview with The Pivot Podcast in mid-June, Anderson also opened up about his personal struggles off the field. To help him through a difficult year, Anderson turned to a therapy, for which he shared high praise.
“It made me feel a whole lot better,” Anderson said about sharing his innermost thoughts with professionals. "I think it's important to try and understand yourself by tapping into certain questions that you didn't know or understand. You try to understand life a lot better by using that process of what you are going through. It helped me understand what my purpose is. Therapy has been good. It has helped me get into a positive mind frame. It helped me understand what my goals are. I want to keep focus on positive things, understanding what random people might say doesn't really matter. I know what I am here for. If everybody would just tap into their own purpose, the world would be a better place.”
One goal for Anderson is to show others how he has gone through “the good, bad and ugly.” And how does he stay focused on achieving his goals?
“Man, I just stay in my lane and mind my own business,” Anderson said. “You are the one in control of yourself. Attitude is always one thing you can control. You must be aware of all the moves you are making. Sometimes people swerve into other people's business and lose track of themselves. I am just trying to be aware and stay in a good place.”
Anderson admitted he was depressed at times, and he used any method he could to help improve his mental health when he felt isolated.
"I just had to learn how to keep going,” he said. “I can be used as an example of learning how to understand that. I know there are still a ton of people out there I inspire. There are so many people searching for answers and trying to find their way. If I can keep going and find my own way, I can give them the blueprint. We must all realize the task at hand is harder than what it looks like. You just need to keep moving and keep going.”
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.