Mariners' Young Pitching Duo Shines in Spring Training

Lefty Kade Anderson and righty Ryan Sloan impress Mariners coaches with their stuff and command

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The Seattle Mariners have a pair of top pitching prospects in lefthander Kade Anderson and righthander Ryan Sloan who turned heads in a recent Spring Training side session. Anderson, the team's 2025 first-round pick out of LSU, and Sloan, who was the Mariners' Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2025, showcased advanced stuff and command despite their lack of professional experience.

Why it matters

The Mariners have built one of the best farm systems in baseball in recent years, producing stars like Julio Rodriguez. Their pitching pipeline is just as impressive, with Anderson and Sloan looking like the next wave of young arms who could make an impact at the big-league level soon.

The details

Anderson, a 21-year-old lefty, led LSU to a national title last year before turning pro. He has yet to throw a pitch in the minors but impressed Mariners coaches with his confidence and ability to command his pitches. The 6-foot-2 Anderson also added 15 pounds of muscle during his time off. Sloan, a 20-year-old righty, was the Mariners' Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2025 after going 2-4 with a 3.73 ERA and 90 strikeouts across two A-ball levels. He credits the Mariners' coaching staff for giving him the confidence to attack hitters with his above-average stuff.

  • Kade Anderson led LSU to a national title in 2025.
  • Ryan Sloan was the Mariners' Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2025.

The players

Kade Anderson

A 21-year-old left-handed pitcher who was the Mariners' first-round pick in 2025 out of LSU, where he led the Tigers to a national championship.

Ryan Sloan

A 20-year-old right-handed pitcher who was the Mariners' Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2025 after going 2-4 with a 3.73 ERA and 90 strikeouts across two A-ball levels.

Jerry Dipoto

The president of the Seattle Mariners.

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What they’re saying

“Obviously, Kade hasn't thrown a professional pitch yet, and Ryan [Sloan] hasn't pitched above A-ball, but you would never know it by watching the way they go about their business, how they command the ball, the consistency and repeating their stuff. I don't imagine either one of them is going to spend a heck of a lot of time in the high Minors.”

— Jerry Dipoto, President, Seattle Mariners

“The Mariners do a really good job at giving you the confidence to throw your stuff in the zone. So at the end of the day, my stuff is above-average, so I'm just going to throw it down the middle, and in the long run, I'm going to be really good.”

— Ryan Sloan

What’s next

Both Anderson and Sloan are expected to move quickly through the Mariners' minor league system and could be competing for spots in the big-league rotation as soon as 2027.

The takeaway

The Mariners' impressive farm system continues to produce top pitching prospects, with Anderson and Sloan looking like the next wave of young arms who could make an impact at the major league level in the near future.