Mariners GM doesn’t rule out top 2 pitching prospects debuting in ’26

When the Seattle Mariners’ farm system first started gaining steam early in this decade, it was their pitchers who were leading the charge.

The attention has been more on the hitting side with Seattle’s prospects in more recent years, but two names in particular have thrown the spotlight back on the mound in spring training.

Three unexpected early standouts from Mariners camp

Left-hander Kade Anderson, the No. 3 overall pick in the MLB Draft last year, made his pro pitching debut Saturday with a dazzling inning against the San Diego Padres, striking out the side while working around a walk and an infield single.

Right-hander Ryan Sloan was just as impressive in his first spring action Sunday, throwing a scoreless inning with a strikeout against the Texas Rangers.

There has been buzz ever since last year that the 21-year-old Anderson, the No. 21 overall prospect in the game per MLB Pipeline, could find his way into the big leagues in 2026. And speculation is building now that the 20-year-old Sloan, the No. 33 prospect per MLB Pipeline, could also be in the majors this year, just two years after Seattle drafted him out of high school in the second round.

Mariners general manager Justin Hollander wouldn’t be shocked to see either helping Seattle this season, but he’s not going into the season necessarily expecting it.

“I don’t think it’s out of the question that those guys pitch in the big leagues this year, but I don’t want to make it sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy that they definitely are,” Hollander told Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk. “I think they’re mature enough and their stuff is good enough. Whatever happens between the time they suit up (for a Mariners minor league) affiliate and the end of the season, a number of factors could come into play there. But I don’t see any reason why they couldn’t do it.”

Hollander said there are a number of things that make it easier to project how a pitcher will perform once they arrive in the big leagues compared to a hitter, which should only help Anderson and Sloan if they’re indeed on the fast track to MLB.

“I think with pitchers, you don’t want to artificially hold them down. We just know a lot about how pitches are going to function in the big leagues once they get there. We’re just more certain with how they’re going to work,” Hollander said. “… TrackMan data, ball flight data that not only can track how the ball’s moving but how it’s being commanded, ability to execute pitches in different situations.

“Those things just give you, in a game that is very uncertain, a little bit more certainty with pitchers maybe than position players about what it’s going to look like at the big league level – especially when you’re talking about two players who are really wired the right way in Ryan and Kade.”

While it’s possible either of Sloan and Anderson could pitch for the Mariners in 2026, Hollander wouldn’t expect it to happen in the earlier months of the season.

“I never want to put limits on players. It’s not going to be early. I would be really surprised if we’re in May and it’s like, oh, you know, Kade just shoved everybody out of the way in a month. That would be surprising to me. Not impossible, but surprising.”

Hollander called both pitchers “super impressive” and explained what stands out each of them.

“I don’t want to put too much pressure because comps can be dangerous, (but) I can’t help but see (Yankees All-Star pitcher) Max Fried when I watch (Anderson) out there,” Hollander said. “Just the way his body moves and the way he hides the ball and his intensity and feel for moving the ball to different quadrants, Kade’s been really impressive. He needs innings. He needs time. … I don’t think it’s going to be a lot of time. … I would rent in Everett, I wouldn’t buy if I were him. I think he’s going to be on the radar sooner than later.

“And the same thing with Ryan. Ryan Sloan is really, really mature and focused, clearly diligent in his off the field work. He’s really smart, and he’s got great stuff.”

Hear the full Brock and Salk conversation with Mariners GM Justin Hollander in the podcast at this link or in the player below. Catch Brock and Salk from 6-10 a.m. weekdays on Seattle Sports.

More from Seattle Mariners spring training

• Brendan Donovan showing he’s a ‘tremendous’ add in clubhouse
• Wyman and Bob: M’s bounce-back candidate can be ‘impact player’
• Watch: Cole Young mashes mammoth first HR of spring training
• Three Mariners who hitting coach Kevin Seitzer is high on
• Seattle Mariners’ Bryce Miller has setback with oblique issue

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