The left-hander will make his major league debut on Saturday afternoon against the Chicago Cubs.
After a thrilling come-from-behind victory on Friday night, the Seattle Mariners are looking to take the series from the Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon.
The Cubs have the fourth-best record in a loaded National League, so a series win would be impressive - and it would also be needed. The Mariners enter play at 61-68 and despite the unimpressive record, they are just four games back in the American League West and three games back in the wild card.
As they go for the series victory, Seattle is turning to top prospect Kade Anderson, who is set for his highly-anticipated major league debut.
It's the most highly-anticipated pitching debut for the Mariners since Felix Hernandez in 2005. Anderson, who was drafted No. 3 overall in the MLB Draft last year, led LSU to the College World Series title and then has barreled through the minor leagues this season.
At Double-A Arkansas, Anderson has gone 10-1 with a 1.06 ERA. He's struck out 135 batters in 93.1 innings while issuing only 13 walks.
For Anderson, and for Mariners fans, it's time to dream. I discussed more of this on the most recent 'Refuse to Lose Territory' podcast:
Starting pitcher Kade Anderson 32 on the mound as The LSU Tigers take on the West Virginia Mountaineers in game 1 of the 2025 NCAA Div 1 Super Regional Baseball Championship at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA. Saturday, June 7, 2025. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect"You should be excited about it, because this is the time to dream for all of us.
For Kade Anderson, it's the time for him to dream about 15 years in the big leagues. It's time for him to dream about Cy Young's and Hall of Fame berths. Like, these are the things that he has dreamt about his entire life.
If it's him, this is the culmination of all of your hard work and all of the people that have supported you.
For us as fans, this is also the time to dream. Now, we don't know what's going to happen on Saturday, and we don't know what's going to happen down the line. For us, this is the dream of having another Felix, another Logan Gilbert. Someone who is, so far at least in Gilbert's case, a career-long Mariner, who is ours, and ours alone. Who is dominant, who makes multiple All-Star games, who wins a Cy Young.
Even in a down year, this is a great day for the Mariners, for the organization, and for the fans."
Now, it won't be an easy first task for Anderson, as the Cubs are extremely potent against left-handed pitching, but given his numbers and his makeup, he will be up for the task.
First pitch between the M's and Cubs is set for 4:15 p.m. PT. Anderson will be opposed by left-hander David Peterson, who was acquired earlier this season from the New York Mets.
Of note
The most recent edition of the 'Refuse to Lose Territory' podcast is out, talking about Kade Anderson's call-up and featuring a conversation with Mariners infielder Ryan Bliss. You can listen here, or you can watch in the YouTube player below
