Mariners’ top pitching prospects impressing beyond strikeouts

As impressive as their work on the practice fields has been, the poise displayed by the top Seattle Mariners pitching prospects, Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan, has been off the charts in their first big league camp.

Mariners top pick Kade Anderson throws dazzling live BP

It is one thing to see them put up zeros in live batting practice against hitting groups that include the likes of Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez, Randy Arozarena, Rob Refsnyder and Brendan Donovan. But their comments after could easily raise an eyebrow if it didn’t sound so sincere.

“Personally, I’m just here to strike out batters.”

“My goal is to punch tickets.”

These were answers to media questions by a player who has yet to throw in a professional game (Anderson), and another who is just over a year separated from high school (Sloan). While they were uttered matter of factly without a hint of Nuke LaLoosh, they were comments that still stood out, something you just don’t hear from young pitchers in big league camp.

“I was surprised to hear them say it, but it seems obvious to me if you have the ability to do it, you have the option to do it,” Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said. “Don’t let the ball in play decide your outcome. Just get ahead and finish guys as quickly as you can.”

“They’re hungry,” pitching coach Pete Woodworth noted. “They are not just here to get to know people and have a good time in big league camp. They’re here to compete, they are here to get ahead and they are here to punch a lot of tickets. It’s fun to hear.”

At a different time perhaps from different players, their words my have seemed audacious. Woodworth however sees comfortability. They are OK saying it.

“For how young they are, they have had two different paths, but there is a lot of true self-confidence,” he said. “It’s not fake. They are not just saying what we want them to say. They truly believe it and you can see it when they pitch.”

How they go about trying to get to their strikeouts has been appreciated by both Hollander and Woodworth. Sloan, the No. 33 overall prospect per MLB Pipeline who finished last season with High-A Everett, pointed out that if he wants to talk about strikeouts, then he needs to be getting ahead in the count. For Anderson, Pipeline’s No. 21 prospect who Seattle picked third overall in the draft last year after he helped pitch LSU to a national title, he said the attack mindset is critical for him.

“I think these guys very clearly have a plan in mind,” Hollander said. “And the best thing you can do as a pitcher is strike people out. There’s nothing better than a strikeout, and they seem really committed to the idea that in order to get there, you have to throw strike one. You can’t walk people. You have to be ahead all the time. And then when you have a chance, kill someone.”

Neither will break camp with the big club, but it is not a stretch to say both have the potential to see time in the big leagues should the need arise this season. But before then, there is work to be done, and important steps are being taken now in Peoria. As impressive as their live batting practices have been on Field 1 at the Peoria Sports Complex, it is not the names of players retired that is important or what they are are being evaluated on. They are being watched in a different manner.

“I think you just look to see how composed they are, whether they’re executing pitches,” said Hollander. “You don’t ever want to make too much of an individual spring training outing or a live BP setting, even less than that. I think just watching them go execute pitch after pitch has been really fun to see. Not really making anything of it more than that. They have great stuff and they have real plans and sort of a diversity of weapons that makes them unique. But beyond that, not putting a ton of stock in anything that happens out there.”

For Woodworth, it is about keeping them moving forward. In the case of Anderson, Woodworth has been impressing on him the importance of consistency in what he does situation to situation.

“It’s a challenge all pitchers face, trying to do too much,” Woodworth said. “Really, truly believing in your stuff is not trying to add more to this pitch because you are 0-2, or not trying to take your foot off the gas because you are at the bottom of the lineup. Just knowing who you are and staying in that fourth, fifth gear, it’s a challenge for all pitchers.”

For Sloan, it is sharpening two-strike execution.

“He’s been able to show what he’s capable of doing and has thrown a ton of strikes,” Woodworth said. “If the kid is thirsty for punchouts, that’s his next challenge. Don’t try to do to much. It’s how good can you be at executing two-strike pitches. Guys who punch out the most guys don’t necessarily have the best stuff, they are just really good at executing it when they get to those counts. They get there most often, and when they get there they don’t dance around, they land their punch.”

Both pitchers are expected to get at least one Cactus League start this spring to get their feet wet. First starts are always unpredictable, and anything can happen in a spring training environment, but both have earned the opportunity. What comes next after that is up to them.

“Those two kids have been extremely impressive with how mature their thought process is,” said Woodworth. “Those guys have shown with the ability and the mental skills that they are excelling at the 100 level and continue to just push the floor up. They are ready for the next challenge. They keep checking boxes and keep impressing, and we will keep throwing challenges at them.”

More from Seattle Mariners spring training

• Logan Gilbert puts pressure on radio hosts making predictions
• What we learned from Mariners’ Brendan Donovan
• Drayer: Three things standing out early at Mariners camp
• How ‘challenging’ year led Luke Raley to a new offseason focus
• Prospect Arroyo ‘stole the show’ in Seattle Mariners Cactus League opener

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