Kade Anderson Steals the Show in Impressive Big League Debut
Kade Anderson became the first player from his 2025 draft class to make his major league debut, pitching impressively for the Seattle Mariners against the Chicago Cubs.
The 22-year-old left-hander got done with his warmup routine quicker than usual on Saturday, but instead of ignoring the young fans who watched his bullpen session, Anderson took a few minutes to sign autographs for them before the Mariners beat the Cubs 5-4 in walk-off fashion.
Anderson, who was drafted third overall out of LSU, yielded three earned runs in 5 2/3 innings, two on back-to-back solo homers in the sixth, which caused the end to his night after 81 pitches. He struck out five Cubs hitters, three of them with a slider that generated six whiffs in the game.
Anderson's arrival in Seattle coincided with the club being in need of reinforcements. The Mariners moved three games behind Houston in the AL West and two games back in the race for the final wild-card spot after Saturday's win.
Anderson, who was more than willing to lend a few minutes of his time to the young fans, said "That's what it's all about at the end of the day, to go out there and pitch for the fans. You just got to give back to those kids."
Manager Dan Wilson elected to send Anderson back out for the sixth because he thought the young lefty was throwing the ball "extremely well," and was pleased with how he handled adversity. "The way he used all of his stuff, you saw everything today," Wilson said. "He wasn’t afraid to throw anything in any count, and I just thought for a first time out there, he looked very, very comfortable, and that’s a great sign."
Anderson's big league debut was just the latest in a string of impressive performances for the young left-hander. In 18 starts for Double-A Arkansas this year, Anderson went 10-1 with a 1.06 ERA, striking out 135 batters and walking 13 in 93 1/3 innings.
Anderson's arrival in Seattle has given the Mariners a boost in their bid to return to the playoffs. With the season getting shorter and shorter, every game matters, and Anderson's impressive debut has given the team a much-needed spark.
After his impressive debut, Anderson took a moment to look around T-Mobile Park and take it all in. "I've only been to Seattle a couple times, but, this place is really cool," Anderson said. "The weather here is really nice, so that’s a plus. It’s a really special city. I really like it so far."
Anderson will look to build on his impressive debut as he takes on the challenges of the big leagues. The Mariners will need him to continue to pitch well as they make a push for the playoffs.
Source: Yahoo Sports