SEATTLE -- This was the last thing that Kade Anderson and the Mariners wanted to see, especially in an inconsequential game as their season nears its end.
Seattle’s highly touted left-hander was forced to exit during the top of the fourth inning of Saturday night’s 8-4 win over the Angels after taking a 103.8 mph comebacker off his pitching elbow.
Anderson showed visible discomfort immediately after getting hit on what turned into a single for Halos second baseman Christian Moore. At that point, Mariners manager Dan Wilson and assistant athletic trainer Taylor Bennett immediately came out of the dugout.
After a very brief conferral, Anderson walked off the mound for good. And the next inning, the club announced that the rookie had suffered a left forearm bruise.
However, the contact was to “mostly meat” and did not connect with Anderson’s bone, per manager Dan Wilson, and initial X-rays came back negative.
“Obviously a huge exhale of relief,” Wilson said.
Anderson identified the area just below his elbow and said it wasn’t the first time he’d been hit by a comebacker in that region of his arm, having had a similar incident in college.
“I knew nothing, like bone, was wrong,” Anderson said. “I think it was more that I just couldn't grip anything. It was just like my arm went dead. So it was just frustrating because I knew I wouldn't be able to continue.”
Anderson was making his seventh and final big league start of this incredibly promising debut season in pro baseball. Selected as the No. 3 overall pick in last year’s MLB Draft, he soared through the Minors then was called up to The Show on Aug. 22.
It’s likely that the promotion was for good, as Anderson is a huge part of Seattle’s plans for the long term and should be among its Opening Day rotation in 2027.
COMPLETE MARINERS PROSPECT COVERAGE
On Saturday, he scattered four hits and one walk among the 15 batters he faced, with four strikeouts over 3 1/3 scoreless innings before the comebacker. This followed seven scoreless innings last Sunday in Denver, in what amounted to his best big league start so far.
Also of note, he rebounded in a big way against the same Angels team that tagged him for five earned runs two starts prior. Specifically, as he did against the Rockies, Anderson was more deliberate with location and execution once reaching two strikes -- the effectiveness of which came through extended pregame consultations with catcher Cal Raleigh.
“Cal has helped me out with that a lot, and just kind of identifying what you're trying to do with that pitch,” Anderson said, “instead of just hearing the pitch in the PitchCom and throwing it. Having some more like intention behind that pitch has helped me a lot with just kind of identifying where the pitch is supposed to end up a little more.”
He also sprinkled in the two-seamer that he first unveiled in Colorado.
“I think it's going to be a big development,” Anderson said. “I think going into next year, I'll probably use a lot more, but probably maybe only to lefties. But it's just another thing that you're continuing to learn, and more pitches can always help. But just honestly, at the same time, identifying that these are my four best pitches and tacking on with that.”
Anderson finished his first foray into The Show with a 3.79 ERA in 35 2/3 innings.
At Double-A Arkansas, where he spent the rest of the year, he went 10-1 with a 1.06 ERA over 93 1/3 innings, with 135 strikeouts, 13 walks and a 0.64 WHIP. He was recently named the Texas League Pitcher of the Year, and on Saturday, he was named the Mariners’ Jamie Moyer Pitcher of the Year, which recognizes the organization's best arm in the Minors.
“I've learned to understand that my stuff still plays here,” Anderson said. “It's like, at the end of the day, it's really not that much different from a lot of other [levels]. And I'm just really excited to continue to build off of this. I mean, you can kind of see -- and success isn't really determined on stats by any means -- but it felt like the last two outings, I was kind of feeling my groove.”