TUCSON, Ariz. -- Fourteen Cactus League games in the books for the White Sox leave the team with 17 more before it exits Arizona.

But if the South Siders handed out a Most Improved Camper award at the halfway point of Spring Training, then Brian Anderson would take home such an honor. With three weeks yet to be played out, the question for Anderson is whether this great upswing ultimately translates into a roster spot.

"Anyone can have a good week," said White Sox hitting coach Greg Walker of Anderson. "We need someone to have a good year.

"During the past week, this is the best I've seen BA. But he has to maintain it. We are looking for consistency."

Anderson entered Spring Training 2008 on a steady decline in regard to organization expectations compared to his last two big league camps. In 2006, the White Sox tabbed Anderson to take over where Aaron Rowand left off, with the 15th pick overall in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft being anointed as the defending World Series champions' starting center fielder.

Following a season in which he played stellar defense but hit just .225, Anderson had to fight through Spring Training 2007 simply to earn the job of 25th man on the roster. Now, after getting only 17 big league at-bats last year and following a terse but pointed dissertation to MLB.com at the end of October concerning his thoughts of the team's perception of his tenuous status, Anderson figured to be an afterthought starting this past February in his hometown of Tucson.

Maybe another team would take on the supremely talented young man via trade, offering him a fresh start. But a funny thing happened on the way to the Mountain Time Zone.

That fresh start apparently has been created by Anderson with the White Sox. He has the same sort of entertaining, crazy personality as he did two years ago, even flashing a little self-deprecating humor about his shortcomings at the plate during a Friday loss to Arizona. But a maturity exists for Anderson in his game and season preparation that wasn't always there previously.

The change has helped translate into the 25-year-old carrying a .351 average on the heels of a 1-for-4 effort against the Padres on Sunday. Anderson also sits near the top of the Cactus League leaders in hits (13), total bases (21) and walks (6).

Could his immense talent finally be melding with the right sort of big league attitude? His teammates seem to believe in the change.

"You can tell he worked hard this offseason," said White Sox center fielder Jerry Owens. "He's swinging the bat really well. He's a good player, but he just happened to have down years. The kid can play and he just needs that opportunity. He came out ready to go."

"He's a good player, no doubt," White Sox outfielder Carlos Quentin added. "Great potential and talent, a five-tool guy. He's having a great spring."

If not for a right groin strain suffered by Owens and Quentin being set back briefly by soreness in his surgically repaired left shoulder, Anderson probably wouldn't have found this extended chance to prove himself. Anderson's 37 spring at-bats stand far and away as the team's top total.

A sign of a player dedicated to proving himself, though, is taking advantage of such an opportunity. Instead of wondering why the White Sox might have forgotten about him, Anderson is making the team think about him all over again.

Jermaine Dye and Nick Swisher stand as two of the three outfield starters. So, Anderson is competing with his two friends for two roster spots overall. Owens fills the bill of the prototypical leadoff man, while Quentin has great on-base potential and extra-base pop in his bat. Anderson sort of adds a little bit of everything, but remains focused on doing the best he possibly can to help the team.

"All three of us are under the assumption that if we play well, we'll play," Anderson said. "If we all perform, then they will find somewhere for us to play."

"Just play hard, day in and day out, and let the chips fall where they may," Quentin added. "It's not something where you wish bad upon anyone else. Focus on yourself and how you prepare and how you are doing."

Guessing at a White Sox roster on March 9 probably would include Anderson's name among the 25. But there are minor maladies in the process of healing, not to mention a number of games left to be played.

So, Anderson isn't exactly taking a bow in the center of the clubhouse quite yet. He came into camp in the best shape of his life, with the greatest focus on baseball of his career, set to show the White Sox what they have been missing.

This process has only just begun for Anderson, who still believes he could be part of the White Sox Opening Day outfield on March 31 in Cleveland.

"Honestly, I feel like each game counts, and I'm starting fresh every day," Anderson said. "I'm not basing anything on how I've been hitting. I'm going game to game."

"Brian knows he has to earn everything he gets," Walker added. "It takes consistency and a strong mental approach and handling pressure and tough situations. But right now, BA is the guy showing the biggest improvement from one year to the next."