Reports: Mariners promoting top pitching prospect Kade Anderson

Field Level Media|published: 08/20/2026, 9:26pm EDT

Jul 12, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; American League pitcher Kade Anderson (32) throws a pitch against National League in the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

The Seattle Mariners will call up left-hander Kade Anderson, ranked the top pitching prospect in baseball, to make his major league debut against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday, according to multiple reports on Thursday.

Anderson, 22, is also rated the No. 5 overall prospect and the Mariners' top prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.

Seattle selected Anderson third overall in the 2025 MLB Draft out of LSU.

Anderson is 10-1 with a 1.06 ERA, 13 walks and 135 strikeouts in 93 1/3 innings over 18 starts this season for Double-A Arkansas. He has allowed 47 hits and 11 runs, with opponents scoreless against him in 13 of his starts.

The Mariners (60-68) lost to Milwaukee on Thursday to fall three games behind the Minnesota Twins for the third and final American League wild-card spot.

Seattle opens the three-game series against the Cubs on Friday with right-hander Emerson Hancock as the scheduled starter, followed by rookie Anderson on Saturday and then veteran righty Bryan Woo, who was bumped to Sunday.

The rotation would resume with Bryce Miller, Logan Gilbert and George Kirby for a three-game home set against the Philadelphia Phillies.

--Field Level Media