Kade Anderson just made his first start since becoming MLB Pipeline’s top-rated pitching prospect, and it only proved further why he earned that designation.
Anderson, the Mariners’ No. 1 prospect and MLB’s No. 5 overall, struck out nine on Friday across six innings of two-run ball. Despite the gem, Anderson took the loss in a tight 2-1 decision for Double-A Arkansas against Springfield at Route 66 Stadium.
Anderson only faced traffic in the first inning. An error and a ground-ball single put two on with just one out before he induced a pair of flyouts to end the threat.
Though the lefty allowed just three hits in total, the other two were both solo home runs: one from Won-Bin Cho to lead off the fifth and one from Ryan Campos with two outs in the sixth. Anderson did not walk a batter.
COMPLETE MARINERS PROSPECT COVERAGE
In the process, Anderson reclaimed the lead in total strikeouts across the Minor Leagues with 108. Additionally, his 14 appearances (all starts) are fewer than any other pitcher in the top five. Anderson, whose 22nd birthday is Monday, boasts an incredible 108:10 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his debut season in professional baseball.