Both Ryan Sloan and Kade Anderson will begin 2026 with the Arkansas Travelers after impressive springs
Many of the top players in the Seattle Mariners farm system got instead work in major league camp during spring training with the World Baseball Classic taking place.
Two of the most highly-regarded prospects in the Mariners' farm system, who took advantage of their time in big league camp, will both begin the season with the Double-A Arkansas Travelers.
Left-handed pitcher Kade Anderson (No. 19 MLB Pipeline top 100) and right-handed pitcher Ryan Sloan (No. 31 MLB Pipeline top 100) were both listed on the Travelers' roster to begin the season.
Both pitchers will enter this season with varying levels of experience but very similar expectations.
Anderson was Seattle's top overall draft pick from last year (No. 3 overall in the 2025 MLB Draft) and received a non-roster invite to spring training this year despite not yet appearing in a professional game.
The former NCAA World Series Most Outstanding Player made three starts in spring training and posted a 6.43 ERA with nine strikeouts in seven innings pitched.
Anderson is ranked as the Mariners' No. 2 overall prospect and top pitching prospects according to MLB Pipeline. At the time he was drafted, he was coming off a dominant season with LSU in 2025 where he led the NCAA Division I level in strikeouts (180).
Sloan, the organization's third-best prospect (per MLB Pipeline) and top right-handed pitching prospect, was picked a year before Anderson in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of high school.
The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder made one appearance this spring in Cactus League action. He had one strikeout in one inning pitched and didn't allow a hit or surrender a free base.
In Seattle's spring breakout game against the Milwaukee Brewers on March 20, Sloan pitched three innings and fanned three batters. He didn't allow a hit, a run or issue a free base.
Sloan spent last season with the Single-A Modesto Nuts and High-A Everett AquaSox. He finished with a 3.73 ERA and struck out 90 batters in 82 innings pitched.
Everett AquaSox pitcher Ryan Sloan throws during a game against the Hillsboro Hops on Aug. 16 at Hillsboro Park in Hillsboro, Ore. - Credit: Everett AquaSox.Sloan, who entered the Mariners organization with major league size, added velocity to his fastball over the offseason. His four-seamer touched 99 miles per hour several times in bullpen sessions.
Seattle general manager Justin Hollander said earlier this offseason that it wasn't out of the question for either Sloan or Anderson to make their major league debuts this season despite their limited (or, in Anderson's case, non-existent) time in the minors.
If both hurlers have impressive stints with the Travelers, it's not out of the question either player will make an appearance for the Mariners at the big league level at some point in 2026.
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