BOSTON – There’s something funny about top Red Sox prospect Lars Anderson.

At 6-foot-4, the 21-year-old first baseman certainly has an intimidating presence on the field. He hovers over home plate, instantly shrinking the catcher and umpire behind him, and any given pitch thrown his way could easily fall victim to his fluid swing and powerful slugging ability. Anderson’s size and frame have been compared to that of Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, but if anything he looks like Dirk Nowitzki up there (give or take about six inches). He takes a strictly business approach to the game as evident from his unyielding work ethic and the results it produces.

Anderson isn't your typical ballplayer.

“He’s a diligent worker who has impressed the organization with his intelligence and maturity,” according to Baseball America, which ranked Anderson first among all Red Sox prospects entering the season.

Up close, however, the highly touted minor leaguer almost seems like a giddy teenager: cheerful, starry-eyed, and simply grateful to be doing what he loves most.

In an odd turn of events, Anderson has seemingly paradoxical character traits: a no-nonsense approach to the game coupled with a happy-go-lucky attitude. He’s youthful but serious, confident yet unassuming, powerful but personable – a gentle giant, if you will. Sure, he could effortlessly launch a ball to right field with sheer force and velocity, but he could also flash you an ear-to-ear childish grin reminiscent of a little kid opening presents on his birthday.

“As a player, that guy does some things that not a lot of people could do,” says Ryan Kalish, the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs centerfielder and Anderson’s longtime teammate and friend. “As a person, he’s just different from everyone else in a great way. He’s got that California bro-dude attitude.”

Anderson typically spares the media from his ‘bros’ and ‘dudes,’ but he is almost always a pleasant subject for interviews.

“He’s one of those guys who could strike out five times in a game and still have a huge smile on his face,” says one Sea Dogs official.

The guy doesn’t assume a new persona simply because there’s a camera or microphone in his face. In fact, he answers reporters candidly, often giving off-the-cuff remarks that are both pithy and clever – like something a charmingly wise-cracking teenager might say.

When asked what he thinks he could improve upon most in the minors, Anderson answered: “Everything.”

When asked what his ideal timetable was for getting to the majors, he said: “When I’m ready.”

This year marks the first year that Anderson would have been draft eligible had he gone to college rather than made the leap to the majors straight out of high school. But when he was asked whether he’s ever “missed” the college experience, Anderson simply replied: “I don’t know how I’d miss it if I never did it.”

Kalish says Anderson is usually “pretty sarcastic,” which is often reflected in his sometimes humorous and offbeat interviews.

“The way he talks to the media, that’s just his style and he likes to have fun with it,” Kalish says.

Baseball skills aside, Anderson transcends his fellow teammates and opponents with his off-field persona. Like Yogi Berra, Shaquille O’Neal, and Rickey Henderson before him, Anderson is a sportsman who entertains with both his athletic ability and his personality.

The young slugger is already widely known to Red Sox fans, and is a big hit at that. During Saturday’s annual “Futures at Fenway” game, Anderson clearly received the loudest ovation of any player at Fenway, both before and during the game. (He subsequently left the game during the fifth inning with an apparent injury to his left hamstring.)

“He’s a guy who’s getting a lot of attention this year, so he’s not just someone coming up that nobody knows anything about anymore,” said Portland Manager Arnie Beyeler.

Anderson has struggled so far this season, hitting a mere .243 with eight homers and 49 RBIs. But it’s also his first full year in Double-A since being promoted mid-way through the 2008 season.

Mostly it’s inconsistency at the plate that has really dogged Anderson this season. In April and June the lefty hit .293 and .298 respectively, whereas his average dipped to .194 and .231 in May and July, respectively. Not to mention he failed to hit a single home run in the month of July – a significant marker of a slump for a prospect known for his power.

“In May I had some physical issues that were a little inhibiting, but in July I just kind of lost trust in my abilities and I got away from my strengths,” Anderson says. “But it’s good to know that and make adjustments.”

There’s a lot of pressure that comes with being the cream of the Red Sox minor league system’s crop. Not only does the team have high hopes for their oversized slugger, but he’s become a prominent name in the greater baseball community as well. Baseball America Executive Editor Jim Callis – one of the more renowned voices when it comes to scouting prospects – ranked Anderson thirteenth among all minor leaguers entering the year, while ESPN’s Keith Law put him at number seven.

In the words of Law: “Anderson is the best of a fairly deep class of first base prospects in the minors right now, separating himself by his relative youth and advanced approach.”

Not too shabby for a guy only three years removed from high school.

Still, the praise and hype doesn’t much faze Anderson. In typical fashion, he’s too nonchalant to get over-excited about a few good ratings and the distinguished honor of being named one of the best young players in the minors.

“It’s a pretty arbitrary and subjective thing,” he says. “I don’t know who’s making those lists but there are a lot of other guys who are pretty good, too.”

Although he’s still young, Anderson appears made for the big leagues. He has the skills to thrive on the field, but more importantly he has the attitude to succeed off of it. Though at times odd and quirky, Lars Anderson possesses qualities typical of a great athlete: a steadfast work ethic, fun-loving with everyone he meets, and humble about his much-heralded success. There is a star quality about Anderson that has convinced his teammates, coaches, and friends that he’s going to make it – it’s just a matter of time.