Kade Anderson set to join list of biggest pitching debuts of the past 20+ years

When Kade Anderson takes the mound for the Mariners for his Major League debut on Saturday against the Cubs in Seattle, he’ll be the 16th pitching prospect ranked among the top five overall prospects to make his big league debut. Here’s a look at the group he’s about to join, the biggest pitching debuts over the past 20-plus years.

Aug. 22, 2026: Kade Anderson, Mariners (No. 5)
TBD

• Anderson joins Skenes, Strasburg as college aces to enjoy meteoric rise

March 19, 2025: Roki Sasaki, Dodgers (No. 1)
ND vs. Cubs (W, 6-3)
3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 5 BB, 3 K

When Sasaki was officially posted for MLB teams to bid on in December 2024, he immediately became the talk of the game. The 23-year-old right-hander came with reports of a triple-digit fastball, an unhittable splitter and a bat-missing slider, bringing that electric mix to the Dodgers for a $6.5 million bonus. His debut, ironically, came back in Japan, as the Dodgers and Cubs opened the season in the Tokyo Dome, where he showed off his plus stuff -- and some things he would need to work on.

May 11, 2024: Paul Skenes, Pirates (No. 3)
ND vs. Cubs (W, 10-9)
4 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 7 K

Arguably the most highly anticipated pitching debut in recent memory, everyone knew Skenes wouldn’t need long to be ready for the big leagues after starring at Louisiana State and going No. 1 in the 2023 Draft. Some felt he should have started the year in the big leagues, but the Pirates gave him seven more Minor League outings before making the call. It was a modest debut, though he did whiff seven in four innings. It set the stage for what would be a National League Rookie of the Year-winning season.

April 1, 2018: Shohei Ohtani, Angels (No. 1)
Win vs. Athletics (7-4)
6 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 6 K

This wasn’t actually Ohtani’s Major League debut. The two-way phenom was the Angels’ DH on Opening Day, going 1-for-5 at the plate, before making his first big league start a couple of days later and getting his first win in the process. He was the obvious choice for American League Rookie of the Year in 2018 because of his prowess both ways, finishing with a 3.31 ERA and an 11.0 K/9 rate over 51 2/3 innings.

June 28, 2016: Lucas Giolito, Nationals (No. 1)
ND vs. Mets (W, 5-0)
4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K

This one took a little while. Giolito had Tommy John surgery not long after signing with the Nats in 2012 and didn’t begin his pro career in earnest until July 2013. His slow climb to his debut included two Futures Game appearances and he was terrific in his first big league start in Washington. He wasn’t there long, getting dealt that offseason to the White Sox.

May 27, 2016: Julio Urías, Dodgers (No. 2)
ND vs. Mets (L, 6-5)
2.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 3 K

After being signed from the Mexico City Red Devils in August 2012, Urías carved up Minor League hitters as a teenager, dominating Double-A at age 18 in 2015. After his so-so debut, he went on to make 17 more regular-season appearances and two more in the playoffs. He went on to be a 20-game winner a year after helping the Dodgers win the 2020 World Series.

Aug. 30, 2013: Taijuan Walker, Mariners (No. 4)
Win vs. Astros (7-1)
5 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 2 K

Walker was a high-ceiling high school arm the Mariners nabbed in 2010 with a pick awarded for the loss of free agent Adrian Beltré. He rose through the system, and up the prospect ranks pretty rapidly for a prepster, pitching in a pair of Futures Games along the way before making his debut shortly after his 21st birthday. He’s played for four more big league clubs since, posting a career WAR over 12.

Sept. 23, 2012: Dylan Bundy, Orioles (No. 2)
ND vs. Red Sox (L, 2-1)
0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Strasburg (below), Skenes and Anderson are the three college draftees who made their debuts in the year after being selected. Bundy one-upped them by being a high school draftee who reached the highest level in his first full season. He raced up all four rungs on the Orioles’ ladder in 2012 after being the No. 4 pick in the ‘11 Draft and made a pair of relief outings late in September. He wouldn’t reach the big leagues again until 2016.

June 8, 2010: Stephen Strasburg, Nationals (No. 1)
Win vs. Pirates (5-2)
7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 14 K

Strasburg is the only one who can rival Skenes in terms of anticipation and he’s the clear leader in best debut. The slam dunk best player in the 2009 Draft and obvious choice to go 1-1, he made 11 Minor League starts before coming up to face the Pirates and electrifying baseball with his 14-K performance. Injuries cut things short, but he was still a three-time All-Star and the 2019 World Series MVP.

Sept. 8, 2009: Madison Bumgarner, Giants (No. 2)
ND vs. Padres (L, 4-3)
5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 4 K

MadBum put down a serious marker in his first full season of pro ball in 2008, going 15-3 with a 1.48 ERA, 10.4 K/9 and 1.3 BB/9 rates in what now seems like an absurd 141 2/3 IP. He spent most of 2009 in Double-A before coming up to start in his debut shortly after he turned 20. He established himself the next year, helping the Giants win the World Series in 2010 (and again in 2012 and 2014).

April 9, 2009: Rick Porcello, Tigers (No. 4)
Loss vs. Blue Jays (6-2)
5 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 4 K

Porcello was one of the best prep arms in the same 2007 Draft class Bumgarner came from, getting a huge $3.58 million bonus at the end of the first round. He spent one year in the Florida State League then made the huge leap all the way to the Tigers’ rotation to start the 2009 season, a year that saw him win 14 games and finish third in American League Rookie of the Year voting.

May 25, 2008: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (No. 4)
ND vs. Cardinals (W, 4-3)
6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 7 K

No one has accrued more career WAR from the 2006 Draft class than Kershaw, who wrapped up what will be a Hall of Fame career in 2025. It all started in early May 17 years prior, about two months after he turned 20. He had jumped from Single-A to Double-A in his first full season of pro ball, setting the stage for the quick leap to the big leagues.

June 8, 2007: Homer Bailey, Reds (No. 1)
Win vs. Indians (4-3)
5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 3 K

A top 10 pick out of the Texas high school ranks in 2004, Bailey really laid claim to top pitching prospect status with a dominant 2006 season in the Minors, making it to Double-A in his age-20 season. He was the first of five No. 1 overall prospects to make their debuts and he got the ‘W’ despite struggling with his command. He spent part of 12 seasons in the Reds rotation.

April 26, 2007: Phil Hughes Yankees (No. 2)
Loss vs. Blue Jays (6-0)
4.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 5 K

A 2004 first-rounder out of high school, Hughes’ prospect stock soared in 2006 when he spent most of the year in Double-A, pitched in the Futures Game and posted a 2.16 ERA over 146 IP. He was still only 20 when he made his MLB debut the following April, a year that ended with him throwing quality postseason innings against Cleveland. He’d eventually help the Yankees win it all in 2009.

Aug. 4, 2005: Félix Hernández, Mariners (No. 2)
Loss vs. Tigers (3-1)
5 IP, 3 H, 2 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 4 K

Maybe he wasn’t King Felix yet, but he had at least earned princehood with his prospect performances in 2004 and ‘05. Dominating in Double-A at 18 in ‘04, then in Triple-A a year later ahead of his first big league start, cemented him as one of the best overall prospects in the game. He more than backed it up with six All-Star appearances and a Cy Young Award.

May 22, 2004: Zack Greinke, Royals (No. 4)
ND vs. Athletics (L, 5-4)
5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K

Greinke began his march to Cooperstown as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2002 Draft and he showed he could move quickly despite being a high schooler, using his advanced feel for pitching to post a 1.93 ERA over 140 IP and reaching Double-A as a teenager. His big league career spanned 20 years and included 225 wins and over 77 WAR.