The Seattle Mariners are calling up Kade Anderson, one of baseball's premier pitching prospects, to make his major league debut on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs at T-Mobile Park. Anderson, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, has showcased dominance in his first professional season.
Pitching for the Double-A Arkansas Travelers, the 22-year-old left-hander has compiled a 1.06 earned run average over 93⅓ innings and 18 starts. He has recorded 135 strikeouts against just 13 walks, allowing only 47 hits. Anderson holds a 10-1 record with a 0.64 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP).
According to MLB Pipeline, Anderson is currently considered the top pitching prospect in the game and the No. 5 overall prospect. Baseball America and FanGraphs also list him as the top arm on their respective prospect rankings.
The Mariners organization had recently begun discussing the possibility of Anderson joining their rotation for the latter part of the season. Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto stated earlier this month, "We’re not going to put Kade in the bullpen. He’s the best starting pitcher in the minor leagues."
Anderson gained significant attention during his collegiate career at LSU, where he was a standout pitcher, helping the Tigers win the College World Series and earning Most Outstanding Player honors. His final college season saw him strike out 180 batters in 119 innings.
His MLB debut is scheduled to be broadcast nationally on Fox at 7:15 p.m. ET. The Mariners, who enter the weekend series against the Cubs with a 60-68 record, are seeking a boost from Anderson as they continue their pursuit of a playoff berth. Seattle is currently three games behind the third and final American League wild-card spot, with five teams positioned between them and that final playoff position.