Anderson debuts at No. 2 in Mariners' new Top 30 prospects

SEATTLE -- There was quite a shakeup in the Mariners’ new Top 30 prospects list from MLB Pipeline, which just received their midseason re-rank in the wake of the MLB Draft and Trade Deadline last month. Both of those marquee events on the baseball calendar directly impacted Seattle’s crop of up-and-comers.

The Mariners dealt away six of the Top 30 players in three separate trades that netted sluggers Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez, along with lefty reliever Caleb Ferguson. But they also added five more to the group via their haul from the Draft.

Headlining the newcomers is left-handed starting pitcher Kade Anderson, who Seattle selected with the No. 3 overall pick and signed to an $8.8 million bonus that was actually below slot value. However, Anderson will not pitch again this year after racking up 119 innings at LSU, where he won the College World Series title.

“They picked a winner,” Anderson said. “Honestly. LSU, we obviously won. And I think that was something that was obviously the coolest moment in my life. And just to have that opportunity to play for the Mariners, and obviously, I think everyone's goal is to win.”

That said, Anderson will arguably be the most intriguing prospect next Spring Training, where he’s expected to be invited to big league camp, and potentially, pitch in the Majors in 2026. A lot of things would have to go right for that to happen, but it’s a possibility that Seattle’s front office isn’t ruling out.

“Obviously, there's been so many guys that are homegrown players that come out of Seattle and now are All-Stars, like Bryan Woo,” Anderson said. “Guys like that, you already know what the Mariners are all about, just in the player development. But to kind of see the success, it obviously helps your confidence as well.”

On a broader level, the new rankings also feature nine Mariners players within MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 overall prospects -- the most in baseball.

Here’s a look at the Mariners’ top prospects:

1. Colt Emerson, SS (MLB No. 11)
2. Kade Anderson, LHP (MLB No. 22)
3. Lazaro Montes, OF (MLB No. 29)
4. Harry Ford, C (MLB No. 40)
5. Ryan Sloan, RHP (MLB No. 42)

Complete Top 30 list »

Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the preseason list, which does not include new additions

Jump: Ryan Sloan, RHP (Preseason: 8 | Midseason: 5)
If not for Anderson, Sloan -- a high-school Draft pick in the second round in 2024 -- would have retained his status as the organization’s top pitching prospect, and for good reason, as he was just promoted from Single-A Modesto to High-A Everett on Sunday. Sloan, who had a 3.44 ERA in 18 starts for the Nuts, is expected to make his first start for the AquaSox this Saturday at Hillsboro. Dating back to June 18, Sloan has a 1.59 ERA and 34 strikeouts in as many innings. He’s quietly been one of the fastest-rising and most promising pitchers in the Minors.

Fall: Dawel Joseph, SS (Preseason: 21 | Midseason: Unranked)
The headliner in the 2023-24 international signing class, Joseph has struggled at the pro level, with a slash line of .161/.320/.234 (.554 OPS) over 378 plate appearances across 96 games, all in the Dominican Summer League over the past two seasons. Joseph was ranked the No. 7 prospect in his year’s international class, and he signed with Seattle for $3 million.

New to the list
Here are the players added to the Top 30 from outside the organization:

No. 2: Kade Anderson, LHP (No. 3 pick in 2025 Draft)
No. 10: Luke Stevenson, C (No. 35 pick in 2025 Draft)
No. 13: Nick Becker, SS (No. 57 pick in 2025 Draft)
No. 17: Korbyn Dickerson, OF (No. 152 pick in 2025 Draft)
No. 23: Griffin Hugus, RHP (No. 91 pick in 2025 Draft)

Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.

Hit: 65 -- Colt Emerson
Power: 65 -- Lazaro Montes
Run: 65 -- Jonny Farmelo
Arm: 65 -- Yorger Bautista
Defense: 55 -- Felnin Celesten (Farmelo, Luke Stevenson, Bautista, Tai Peete, Nick Becker, Korbyn Dickerson)
Fastball: 60 -- Kade Anderson
Curveball: 55 -- Anderson
Slider: 55 -- Anderson (Ryan Sloan, Jurrangelo Cijntje, Teddy McGraw, Griffin Hugus)
Changeup: 60 -- Sloan (Anderson)
Control: 60 -- Marcelo Perez