PEORIA, Ariz. -- Kade Anderson was already pacing towards the dugout before the umpire’s call.
No automated ball-strike system needed; he knew he’d dotted the outer half for strike three. No fear pitching against established big leaguers for the first time. No doubt in his belonging on this stage.
The No. 3 overall pick in last year’s MLB Draft -- and MLB Pipeline’s No. 21 overall prospect -- looked every bit the part when making his professional debut on Saturday afternoon, perhaps most of all due to the imposing mound presence he flashed when walking off the mound after the first inning.
Anderson K’d the side in that opening frame against the Padres by mowing down Xander Bogaerts, Miguel Andujar and Gavin Sheets and working around an infield single to Jackson Merrill and one-out walk to Nick Castellanos.
In that context, his opening act featured a little bit of everything that the Mariners wanted to see.
“Watching how he responds,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said earlier on Saturday. “This game, you never know what to expect. He may go out there and be lights-out. He may get rattled around a little bit. We don't know. But just to see how he handles both scenarios, really, and anything in between.”
The punchouts will naturally go down as the day’s highlight. But there was also the traffic he overcame, manufactured by Merrill’s speed and a wide throw from Ryan Bliss, who was shaded in a shift, and the free pass that left Anderson shaking his head. Yet he limited the damage there.
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Anderson’s second inning wasn’t quite as seamless, as he surrendered a leadoff single to Freddy Fermin then a double to Jake Cronenworth before being pulled for good, after 30 pitches.
For the day, his fastball averaged 93.8 mph and topped out at 94.9 mph, right around the range that’s been anticipated. He’s not going to overpower hitters with velocity, but he never had to at LSU, thanks to a complete, four-pitch arsenal that he’s able to effectively locate -- as he showed with the backwards K to Bogaerts.
The darting changeup, which could be a huge weapon against righties, stood out, generating whiffs on all three swings -- including the K to Andujar. The high-80s slider has enough spin to be a weapon against both sides of the plate. And we haven’t even touched on the 12-6 curveball that’s been his primary out pitch.
“I'm not the velo guy,” Anderson said. “Everyone might think I am. I'm more of a pitcher.”
Yet beyond the stuff, it’s Anderson’s demeanor that’s shined most this spring. No stranger to the spotlight, having earned MVP honors at last year’s Men’s College World Series while leading LSU to the title, Anderson walks and talks like he belongs -- because he does.
“This doesn't technically count as a debut,” Anderson said. “I think some people might say that, but I don't know.”
OK, but were there any jitters pitching in the first actual game among his long-term teammates?
“It's just another game for me,” Anderson said. “When you have that mindset, it makes it a lot easier on yourself. You don't have as much nerves.”
Fine, but isn’t that easier said than done?
“I think it just comes with experience,” Anderson said. “Also when you like, see the other starters, they're just so calm. I think when you're calm out there, it just makes life a lot easier.”
Peppered with questions on the day’s magnitude, despite a Cactus environment, Anderson wouldn’t budge. And it doesn’t seem to be an act -- which speaks to his experience, for sure, but also how longer term he’s looking.
So, too, are the Mariners.
Because Anderson is both 21 years old and that he accumulated 119 innings in LSU’s regular season last year, he’s far more seasoned than most Draft picks this early in their pro careers. And the intent and work he’s putting in this spring is that of a pitcher who's preparing to play deep into the late-summer months -- potentially, in the big league rotation if there is an eventual need.
“He is about as polished as you can see a college pitcher come out, both physically, and mentally,” Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said. “He's prepared for what comes next. Also, pretty competitive is what we're finding out. And that, I guess, is not shocking, based on what we watched as an amateur, but it's pretty awesome.”