Could top Mariners pick Kade Anderson be in majors next year?

Former Seattle Mariners pitcher Charlie Furbush is pretty high on the newest top M’s draft pick, LSU starting pitcher Kade Anderson. So much so, he wonders if Anderson – who won’t make his pro debut this year – could be in the big leagues sometime in 2026.

Three things we learned about top Seattle Mariners pick Kade Anderson

“He’s pitched at the highest ranks in college, he should move his way up pretty quick through the system,” Furbush said of the No. 3 overall selection Monday on Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob. “… He’s an interesting guy because all the things he’s done and where he’s at, and you wonder what moves are made throughout the rest of the year for the Mariners and then go into the offseason. Am I crazy to say, can he crack the rotation out of spring training?”

That’s a pretty lofty timeline, and it would be understandable if there are some sentimental reasons behind the statement. Like Furbush, Anderson is a left-handed product of the LSU Tigers. But Furbush is not alone in thinking Anderson could make an impact for the M’s quicker than any of their prospects in recent memory.

Asked Sunday about Anderson’s timeline to the majors, Mariners director of amateur scouting Scott Hunter didn’t get specific in his response, but he didn’t shoot down the idea of Anderson being a fast riser through the minor leagues, either.

“I think his stuff’s there, but more importantly, his command and his control,” Hunter said before referring to a complete game shutout Anderson threw in the first of LSU’s two wins in the finals of the 2025 College World Series. “Just being able to watch him in College World Series at the end… I think that was a moment for us to say, man, even when he doesn’t have his best stuff, he can find a way to get you. Because the first inning or two didn’t really go the way he wanted, and then you look up, he’s in the ninth inning.

“When I met with him and (Mariners assistant general manager Andy McKay) met with him on separate occasions, that was the biggest thing for him – understanding that his job was to take the ball and pitch as long as he can. To hear things like that reminds you of some of the guys that we have in our clubhouse already, about what it means to them to take the mound.”

Have yourself a night Kade Anderson 😤

Career-high 1️⃣4️⃣Ks 🔥 @LSUbaseball pic.twitter.com/Ab1WzrMRyC

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) April 4, 2025

Another person who added weight to the idea that Anderson could join the M’s fairly quickly is his coach at LSU, Jay Johnson, who joined Furbush and fellow guest host Mike Lefko on Monday’s edition of Wyman and Bob.

“Well, in my opinion, they’re getting the player that is the closest to helping a major league team that was available in this draft,” Johnson said of the Mariners. “And I do believe he will be a longtime major league starting pitcher – successful starting pitcher. The pitch ability’s outstanding. It’s four pitches for a strike. He’s never boxed in… If he doesn’t have one pitch, he’s always got ways to get guys out, both left and right-handed hitters. He just fills up the zone. So all the baseball stuff is there.”

Johnson said that while the 6-foot-2, 179-pound Anderson is extremely polished for his age (he just turned 21 this month), he’s by no means a finished product – in a good way.

“I do think he’s got more in the tank in his body as well, so that’s exciting,” Johnson continued. “Very rarely do you see a guy that’s as polished as Kade is that has a bigger ceiling, but the separator is the person part of it. You’re getting an unbelievable competitor. You’re getting the highest-character person, team-first guy through and through, and coachable. Just absolute winner.

“You hit the jackpot. I honestly can’t believe that he didn’t go 1 or 2 (in the draft). I really can’t.”

It can happen

If you’re looking for examples of pitchers who needed little to no time in the minors, Furbush has a few.

There’s former Mariners right-hander Mike Leake, who was drafted in the first round of the 2009 draft out of Arizona State by Cincinnati and debuted for the Reds in April 2010 after only pitching six games in the Arizona Fall League. Stephen Strasburg, the top pick out of San Diego State in the same 2009 draft, made 16 starts in the minors before joining the Washington Nationals in June 2010. And another LSU product, Pirates ace Paul Skenes, pitched just 12 games in the minors combined after being drafted No. 1 overall in 2023, debuting in May 2024 for Pittsburgh.

“It’s probably unlikely (with Anderson), but there are times where a guy comes up and he’s so ready that, boom, you’re on the team,” Furbush said. “I remember a guy, a former Mariner Mike Leake, didn’t play any minor league baseball. He got drafted, boom, right to the big leagues. Went to spring training and dominated, and like, OK, you’re in the rotation because you’re that good. So there may be a scenario that (Anderson) comes in and he dominates and he pitches like a Skenes, he pitches like a Stephen Strasburg, and you go OK, from the left side, the Mariners need a left-handed pitcher in the rotation – yeah, we’re gonna expedite this.”

Whatever path Anderson takes from here, Furbush believes he’s in good hands with the Mariners, a good fit for their well-regarded pitching development program, and helpful as almost immediate depth behind Seattle’s rotation.

“They’re so excited to get this guy under their wing and really kind of build him up and teach him the ‘Mariner way,'” Furbush said. “And the Mariner way is gonna be a really, really effective pitching route for him. It also adds a ton of depth in your organization. Having a guy like Anderson that you can slot in – obviously, I was aggressive in saying (he could debut) next year, but it’s not completely unheard of. So let’s say even if he spends a year in the minor leagues just getting used to the pro life, and then come 2027, he’s on the team. That’s not unheard of.

“… So if anything were to happen to the current set of guys, then you have a guy in in the making that can fill that spot.”

Catch Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob live from 2-7 p.m. weekdays.

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