Two Mariners Pitching Prospects, Two Completely Different Stories in Double-A

If you've been catching Arkansas Travelers games on Friday and Saturday nights, you already know the deal: Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan are the Mariners' top two arms in the system, and they're writing completely different early-season scripts. One is putting on a clinic. The other is still finding his footing. Both matter for Seattle's future.

Anderson Is Playing a Different Game Right Now

The No. 3 overall pick from last year's draft is doing exactly what the Mariners expected when they drafted him. Anderson, a 21-year-old lefty, has been virtually untouchable through his first four pro starts with the Travelers. He's sitting on a 0.48 ERA with a 0.70 WHIP. Let that sink in. In 18 2/3 innings, he's struck out 30 batters while giving up just nine hits and four walks. Opponents are batting .143 against him.

The numbers keep stacking up in his favor. Anderson leads the Texas League in ERA, ranks second in strikeouts, and sits third in both WHIP and opponents' batting average. His command has been ridiculous: 69% of his pitches are strikes, including 60.3% on the first pitch. That translates to a 44.1% strikeout rate that makes you wonder if he's playing a different sport than everyone else on the field. He's also keeping the ball down with a 57.6% groundball rate when hitters do make contact. One of his standout performances came April 10, when he struck out 11 batters over five no-hit innings. Most recently on Friday, he carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning before a weather suspension cut his outing short at 4 2/3 scoreless innings. Baseball America has him ranked as the No. 3 prospect in the Mariners' system and 20th in all of baseball.

Here's the thing: the Mariners are already stacked with big-league rotation options. When Bryce Miller returns from his rehab assignment in mid-May, that's six MLB-caliber starters. Anderson is making a compelling argument that Seattle could actually have seven.

Sloan's Got Work to Do, But the Talent Is There

Sloan was one of the standout prospects during early season work, but Double-A has been rougher. The 20-year-old second-rounder from 2024 is carrying a 5.65 ERA and 1.60 WHIP through four starts, allowing at least two runs in every outing. That's not the story anyone wanted to see.

But here's what's encouraging: his advanced metrics suggest he's getting a little unlucky. His FIP sits at 3.97 and his xFIP at 4.38, both well below that ugly ERA. Opponents have a .378 BABIP against him that almost certainly won't stick around. Sloan is still striking out batters at a 27% clip, matching his rate from last season across Single-A and High-A. The real problem has been control. His 12.7% walk rate is nearly triple the 4.5% he posted in 2024, a significant step backward in command.

His Saturday start offered some hope. Sloan pitched 4 2/3 innings, struck out seven batters (a season high), and allowed just one earned run (also a season low). It's not much, but it's a sign he's starting to figure things out at this level. Baseball America just bumped him up to the No. 2 prospect in the Mariners organization and No. 19 across baseball, surpassing Anderson in their latest rankings.

The Mariners take the field again today against Minnesota at 4:40 p.m. Meanwhile, keep your eyes on those Travelers games. Anderson and Sloan's development could shape Seattle's rotation for years to come.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.