Kade Anderson

The hierarchy of college starters typically evolves throughout the spring, and in 2025 it was Anderson who rushed up draft boards as he struck out double-digit batters in seven of his nine starts for LSU in April and May. He landed in a dream spot on draft day, with the Mariners selecting him third overall and giving him the second largest bonus ($8.8 million) in the draft. Anderson had Tommy John surgery in April 2022 and returned to action as a midweek starter and weekend reliever as a freshman before breaking out last year while leading the nation in strikeouts as a draft-eligible sophomore. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound lefty touches 96 mph with his low-90s fastball that has great movement, and it's his full arsenal of above-average-to-plus offerings that overwhelms hitters. His curveball, slider and changeup, all which will flash plus, move in different directions while coming out of the same arm slot. Anderson had a 3.60 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 170:30 K:BB through 110 innings in 2025. It was a big jump from the 38.1 innings he logged in 2024, and he understandably didn't pitch after signing. Anderson may need just a dozen starts in the minors before he looks like an option for the big-league rotation. Read Past Outlooks