Kade Anderson Already Making Strides Just 2 Starts into Seattle Mariners Pro Career

· Yahoo Sports

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Over the last several seasons, there have been multiple pitchers selected in the first round of the MLB Draft who have made their major league debuts the next season. 

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes was picked with the first overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, debuted in 2024 and was named an All-Star his rookie season. He was the National League Cy Young award winner in 2025.

Visit asg-reflektory.pl for more information.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Trey Yesavage was selected in the first round of the '24 MLB Draft. He debuted in September of 2025 and was one of the Blue Jays' best starters in the postseason.

The Seattle Mariners starting rotation is arguably the best in baseball entering 2026. In a perfect world, they wouldn't have to worry about any other starters aside from their usual five pitching in the majors in 2026.

But if the Mariners do find themselves needing another arm this season, left-hander Kade Anderson, the third-overall pick in the '25 draft, is making a legitimate case to follow in the footsteps of predecessors like Skenes and Yesavage.

Anderson made his second Cactus League start, and second pro start ever, in Seattle's 5-1 win against the Texas Rangers on Friday.

The former LSU hurler put up solid numbers in the box score (three innings pitched, one hit allowed, two strikeouts, no runs, no walks).

This was an improvement over Anderson's prior outing against the San Diego Padres on Feb. 28. He fanned three, walked one and allowed two earned runs on three hits in one inning pitched.

"I think that's just part of baseball," Anderson said after his start Friday. "Just take in your experience and how it goes. Learned a lot from my last game that I could take away and really set it for this game. ... Really tried to set the tone with having that aggressive mindset throughout the game."

He also brought a level of execution rare for a player with his lack of pro experience.

Anderson was able to avoid the barrels and hard contact from the Rangers hitters by targeting the inside of the strike zone.

Not only was the 21-year-old southpaw able to execute his plan, he was able to  do so without his "best stuff," according to him.

"I'm more just one of those accuracy guys that can't afford to throw 100 miles per hour down the middle," Anderson said. "I don't have that one in my back pocket. So I got to clip corners sometimes. But it all just goes back to our motto, which is dominating the zone."

The fact that Anderson's first taste of pro ball is in the Cactus League is indicative of the confidence the front office has in him. And his quick improvement isn't going unnoticed by the coaching staff.

"Can't say enough about Kade, the way he threw the ball," Mariners manager Dan Wilson said in a postgame interview. "We talked the last time about going out for the second inning. Today, second inning, third inning, just same as it ever was for him. I thought he commanded everything really well. Was in control of the strike zone."

Even if Seattle has faith in Anderson, it won't rush him to the majors until he's ready and the organization needs him.

But Mariners general manager Justin Hollander has already said it's not out of the question Anderson could make his major league debut this season. If he continues at his current pace, that might lean closer to inevitability than possibility.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION:

Remember to join our MARINERS on ROUNDTABLE community, which is FREE! You can post your own thoughts, in text or video form, and you can engage with our Roundtable staff, as well as other Mariners fans. If prompted to download the Roundtable APP, that's free too!

Read full story at source