Mariners take CWS's Most Outstanding Player Kade Anderson 3rd overall

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With the third overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, the Seattle Mariners selected Louisiana State lefty Kade Anderson.

Seattle quickly came to terms with Anderson, inking the southpaw to a contract with a bonus of around $8.8 million, a source told Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. His bonus comes in approximately $700,000 below the third overall pick's slot value.

Anderson entered the draft as the top-ranked pitcher on the board, according to MLB Pipeline. The southpaw is the latest potential ace to come through LSU after Paul Skenes went first overall in 2023.

The 21-year-old is fresh off leading the Tigers to a College World Series title and claiming Most Outstanding Player honors after authoring a 10-strikeout shutout in Game 1 of the finals against Coastal Carolina.

Anderson got a late start to his sophomore campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery as a freshman, but he eventually authored a 3.99 ERA over 38 1/3 innings, making nine starts and nine relief appearances. He followed that up with a dominant junior season, posting a 3.18 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over 19 starts (119 innings) while leading D-I with 180 strikeouts.

Bio

Age: 21
Position: LHP
Height/Weight: 6-2, 179 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/L
School: LSU
Pick value (#3): $9,504,400

Tools

• Plus fastball and changeup
• Deep repertoire with above-average curveball and slider
• Considered to have high ceiling as frontline starter and high floor as good reliever

Why fans will love this player

• Savvy pitcher who doesn't rely on one offering
• Quick deceptive delivery
• Led D-I in strikeouts
• Won College World Series' Most Outstanding Player

Things he'll need to overcome

• Not particularly close to the majors for a top college pitcher
• Slender frame
• No single blow-it-by-you pitch
• Might eventually extract more velocity out of delivery

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