TEMPE, Ariz. — A good redemption story is enticing. With Tim Anderson, it is also complicated.

The veteran is in Angels camp this spring, forced to prove himself on a minor-league contract. Looking back three years ago, the idea that Anderson would be at this point after becoming an All-Star for the second time would have seemed absurd.

But here he is, as humble as he can be for a man in his situation, hoping to find his way in baseball again.

There were injuries for sure, but Anderson’s downfall was mostly of his own doing, which means he won’t get sympathy from many. Not everybody will be locked into the quest of a player running out of time to reclaim past glory as a game changer for the Chicago White Sox.

The family strife that Anderson caused — which derailed his ascension in the game and led to admitted mental anguish — was from somebody who overlooked the consequences. Anderson, who has rebuilt his relationship with his wife through counseling, sees that clearly now.

It has even allowed him to see that his dynamic play on the field also was something he didn’t fully appreciate at the time. It was natural, instinctive. That ability to play well was a blessing until he realized he didn’t have the necessary foundation to get it back again.

“You know, I took a lot of things for granted, made a lot of bad decisions,” Anderson said, dressed in all red now in front of his Angels locker. “You know, just caught up in the moment.

“But I own all that and I’m aware of what I have to do to continue to work on myself, continue to make myself better as a person, as a player, as a husband, as a dad. Those are things that I’ve been committed to these last two years.”

Anderson also knows words are cheap.

So he is in Angels camp going back to the basics. He’s the proverbial freshman in college at age 31, smart enough to know now that, in fact, he doesn’t know it all.

“I can go out here and tell the people, ‘Hey, I want to be the greatest person. I’m gonna do this. I’m gonna do that,’” Anderson said. “Nobody’s gonna believe that. You know what I mean? But I’ve bought in, I’m locked in, I’m committed, and I’m just, I’m open to do whatever I need to do to get back to where I need to be.”

For all his accomplishments, Anderson’s two defining moments on the field are a pair of hits. There was his home run in an Iowa corn field to walk off the New York Yankees on national television in 2021 and the punch to the face from the Cleveland Guardians’ Jose Ramirez in 2023 that knocked him on his wallet amid a scuffle at second base.

The highs and lows, all for the consumption of a viewing audience.

Much of Anderson’s decision to join the Angels in the offseason was to absorb knowledge from manager Ron Washington, an infield guru who also has experienced his own ups and downs during his time in the game, while remaining resilient thanks to others who give him opportunities.

“What he’s been through the last few years, it would affect you mentally, I don’t care who you are,” Washington said of Anderson on Friday. “So he has a new start and a chance from the beginning of spring training to control his mental side and he’s been doing that.”

The Angels will need a shortstop with Zach Neto out for up to a month following shoulder surgery. And Anderson hopes to provide some versatility by playing second base at times. He even had a game in center field this week and another is coming soon. Anderson playing the outfield is in its exploratory stage.

“I think at this point of my career, being open to options is definitely something I am doing because, why not?” Anderson said. “I think being able to do more now will definitely help my career.”

That sentiment shows that Anderson is seeing his start with the Angels as a next chapter instead of a last chance. He’s in the weight room now, willing to take advice and open to analyzing his game like never before.

At his best, Anderson was a batting champion in 2019 when he hit .335. There were 20 home runs in 2018 and 17 in both 2017 and 2021. From 2022-24, though, he batted a combined .256 with six home runs in 267 games for the White Sox and Miami Marlins, who released him in July.

“It’s really all in my hands and that’s what makes it so cool that I can control the moment,” Anderson said. “All I have to do is keep working, keep enjoying the moment and keep soaking up as much information as they give me. Keep being thankful for every opportunity that presents itself.”

Also

The Angels’ home split-squad game against the Arizona Diamondbacks was canceled after morning rain and the prospect for more precipitation later in the afternoon. The road game against the Kansas City Royals, 40 miles away in Surprise, ended in a 8-2 defeat after six innings. ... Luis Rengifo and Jorge Soler already had been scratched from the home lineup as a precaution because of a potentially wet field. Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, the Opening Day starter, got in his work by throwing to Angels hitters in an indoor batting cage. ... Mike Trout, Logan O’Hoppe, Mickey Moniak and third-base hopeful J.D. Davis were among the group that had been scheduled to start in the canceled game. Trout was in the lineup as the designated hitter.