Seattle Mariners top prospect Kade Anderson went 5.2 innings versus the Chicago Cubs in his big-league debut, using his entire four-pitch arsenal effectively against one of the best lineups in the majors — the best versus left-handed pitchers in all of baseball entering the contest.
He threw 81 pitches, 53 strikes (65%)s, and missed bats with all four, particularly the 86-90 mph slider (6 whiffs, 11 swings). Until the sixth, Anderson allowed just two hard-hit balls — and only four above 85 mph. He yielded three runs on five hits overall, including three extra-base hits in his final inning. He left with one out in the sixth with the Cubs leading 3-2.
It was a strong start to his career, and pretty much one of those ‘as advertised’ performances, at least until the sixth inning, the third time through the Cubs lineup.
And, no, Anderson should not have been allowed to stay in the game beyond the Pete Crow-Armstrong double in a tie game versus this lineup, and you can argue he should have been done after the final out in the fifth. And then after the gift double play, he still shouldn’t have been allowed to face Michael Busch, another Cubs left-handed batter who handles lefties well.
Still, a solid first impression by the 2025 No. 3 overall pick.
How does Anderson’s debut match up versus that of the rest of the rotation, who all made their debuts with the Seattle Mariners?
Here we go:
Gilbert was the club’s first-round pick in 2018, No. 14 overall out of Stetson. His debut was impacted by the cancellation of the MiLB season in 2020. Gilbert allowed two homers in this one, including one to future Hall of Famer Jose Ramirez.
Kirby threw 81 pitches in this one, 55 for strikes (68%), and all four hits allowed were singles.
Miller was outstanding versus a limited Athletics lineup, but punched out Brent Rooker three times and the 2-5 hitters eight times.
Woo was hit hard by the Rangers in his debut and really didn’t get traction until start No. 3. Like Miller, Woo was selected in the 2021 MLB Draft — Woo in Round 6, Miller in Round 4.
Hancock was solid in his debut, holding a daunting Padres lineup to two hits and a run. San Diego went with Ha-Seong Kim, Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts and Jake Cronenworth that day.
Anderson probably ranks behind Miller, Kirby, and right there with Hancock.
Many more to come from Anderson, who showed his four-seamer has armside run to set up the slider, and his changeup plays the same game. He used the four-seamer up, and teased with the vertical curveball but didn’t have the best feel for it in this one. It’s a plus pitch.
Everything from the same slot, same arm speed, and the variance of the breaking balls from 80-90 mph — from depth and sweeping breaking to almost cutter-like action — plus the angle game he plays, and you can see why Anderson has a bright future. If plus control can eventually turn into plus command, Cliff Lee is the comp.
