All along, the Mariners have said they were going to be patient with prospect Kade Anderson. The more zeroes he throws up, the harder that's going to be.
On Friday night, Seattle Mariners top prospect Kade Anderson spun another gem while pitching for Double-A Arkansas.
The lefty, who was the No. 3 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft (LSU), threw 5.2 innings, giving up just four hits, no runs and no walks. He struck out eight, generating 16 swings-and-misses. He threw 56 strikes against just 18 balls.
Through his first five pro starts, he has a 0.37 ERA, allowing just one run. He's got only four walks and has 38 strikeouts.
With every start he makes, he continues to put pressure on the Mariners for an earlier-than-expected call-up to the big leagues.
Let's take a little deeper dive.
What I've said all along
I like to be transparent, and consistent.
I've said all along that I didn't think that Anderson would be up before August, if he was up at all. I felt that was because he would undoubtedly take some lumps in his first crack at professional baseball and need some more seasoning.
Thus far, that hasn't happened.
I also figured he wouldn't be up until late in the year because the M's would want to monitor his workload and would have him on an innings limit. That's easier to do in the minor leagues.
Finally, the Mariners have "too many" starters as it is. They have Bryan Woo, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert and Luis Castillo. Even though Bryce Miller has been injured, Emerson Hancock has filled in nicely. With six guys already in the mix, especially as Miller nears a return, I haven't thought the Mariners would be in position to introduce more chaos.
LSU Tigers starting pitcher Kade Anderson (32) sits in the dugout between the eighth and ninth innings against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at Charles Schwab Field. Steven Branscombe-Imagn ImagesAre circumstances changing?
To a degree, yes.
Matt Brash is on the injured list right now, which could force alterations to the bullpen plan for the M's. If that manifests itself as Hancock going to to the bullpen, there will be an additional shortage in the rotation.
That could mean that Anderson is just one injury away from getting his shot. With Castillo struggling, he could be a handful of bad starts away from getting his shot on that front.
A pathway to an early call-up that I didn't think was there now exists.
I still think it's the Mariners preference to have their rotation in tact, and pitching well, but if that's not reality, Anderson is showing that he doesn't necessarily need the seasoning that I thought he was going to.
The Mariners (16-17) will take on the Kansas City Royals on Saturday at 6:40 p.m. PT.
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