Through the first few days of Seattle Mariners spring training, a lot of the conversation has been about the young pitching. The duo of Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan impressed in their first live bullpen sessions of the spring, prompting a lot of excitement about the future of the M's rotation.

However, let's focus on the now and answer the simple question that is being posed by a lot of fans: Could Anderson or Sloan actually get to the big leagues this season?

It's a topic we addressed in full on the latest 'Refuse to Lose' podcast:

'Kade Anderson has never thrown a professional pitch. I think it is ever so slightly possible that he pitches in the big leagues in 2026, but I believe it to be highly unlikely. Trey Yesavage did get drafted in 2024, had not thrown a professional pitch in 2024, and did fly through the system and pitched in the playoffs and pitched at the end of the regular season for the Toronto Blue Jays (in 2025). It can happen where a guy goes into a season with never having thrown a pro pitch and ends it pitching in the major leagues. It is possible. It does happen.

Kade Anderson threw more innings last year at LSU than Yesavage had thrown in his final year of college at East Carolina. Kade Anderson threw 119 innings last season. That is his building block heading into 2026. So, I believe, while the Mariners will be careful with him, it is possible that he appears in a big league game, but I find it to be highly unlikely, especially if the starting rotation is is mostly healthy and is certainly healthy at the end of the season."

"Ryan Sloan, I believe, is not even a candidate to pitch in the big leagues this season. He threw just 80 innings last year. He was in high school two years ago. Kade Anderson at least has a full college workload for a season under his belt, and he's older. Sloan does not have that. So, if you're asking for these guys this season, I think Sloan is a complete non-starter. I think Anderson is possible, but I would put it at a very low percentage."

Just 20 years old, Sloan reached High-A Everett by the end of the 2025 season. He was 2-4 with a 3.73 ERA in 82.0 innings. He struck out 90 batters.

Both players are universally ranked as Top 100 prospects in the sport. Anderson is ranked No. 21 by MLB Pipeline while Sloan is No. 33. Anderson was selected with the No. 3 pick in the MLB Draft last season. Sloan was a second-round pick in 2024.

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