White Sox’ Tim Anderson on batting title: ‘I ain’t afraid to say it — damn right, I want to win it’

MINNEAPOLIS — Six words, people:

“This year is gonna be crazy.”

Behind closed doors, Tim Anderson said that often as the 2019 season approached. The White Sox shortstop was referring to himself. Family, friends, teammates, they all knew it: Anderson was expecting to break out in a big way.

“When you feel something, you feel it,” he said. “And I didn’t just feel it — I knew it.”

By the time April ended, and his batting average was at .381, the man seemed to be on to something. A certain well-thrown bat after a well-struck ball against the Royals didn’t hurt his name recognition one bit. What a high ankle sprain that cost him 26 games in June and July threatened to take away, Anderson’s blistering performance at the plate since returning to action has more than restored.

And now? It’s all about that batting title.

Talk about breaking out.

“I ain’t afraid to say it: Damn right, I want to win the batting title,” he said. “I’ve made it this far, so why not go for it? We all know it’s possible. Why not? We’re in September. We’re only playing for a [little] while longer. It’s only right to go for it.”

Anderson entered Wednesday’s series finale against the Twins with a .336 average, tops in all of baseball. The Nationals’ Anthony Rendon was closest, at .332. In the American League, the Yankees’ DJ LeMahieu was second to Anderson, at .329.

How Anderson — a .240 hitter in 2018 — has gotten here is by sticking with a gap-to-gap approach that enables him to see the ball longer and better use the opposite side of the field. Never was that more evident than during Tuesday’s four-hit performance, when his three singles went to center, right-center and up the right-field line. His other hit was a home run pulled into the upper deck in left.

Some of the numbers are startling. After returning July 30 from the high ankle sprain, Anderson almost instantly got hot and ended up hitting .364 in August. He has turned up the heat with a .400 September. Over his last 30 games, he’s at a .385 clip.

Anderson entered Wednesday with 156 hits. That’s 20 more — in 103 fewer at-bats — than he had all last season.

“Wow, I think it’s pretty cool,” manager Rick Renteria said. “You think of the path he’s taken and where he’s at — just to be even in the top 10, the growth that has had to occur for him. It’s been significant. I think [winning the batting title] would mean a lot to him.”

One of the things that would be special about it for Anderson: He’d be the second consecutive African-American player to win the AL crown. The Red Sox’ Mookie Betts hit .346 last season.

“It would be huge, man,” Anderson said. “That would be dope. But either way it goes, man, it would be a huge year for me. Winning it or not winning it isn’t going to [determine] that I had a great year.”

Earlier on this road trip, in Seattle, more than one opposing player approached Anderson before games and told him to go win the thing. Every multihit game — he had 20 of them over the aforementioned 30-game stretch — is leading to texts of encouragement from family and friends.

Anderson wants to be sure the public understands that his No. 1 priority is team success.

“I’ve been about winning since I got here,” he said. “I would rather win here than anywhere else ever, man. I promise you that. I’m all aboard with that. I am eager to win.”

But we can be honest here, can’t we? The Sox’ season is a lost cause. It might as well already be over. Except for one thing.

That batting title.

“I can’t lie,” Anderson said. “I want it.”