SEATTLE (AP) — Well before Kade Anderson threw his first MLB pitch, the Seattle Mariners' prized left-hander took some time to make a few fans' days.
The 22-year-old Anderson got done with his warmup routine on Saturday quicker than usual before his much-ballyhooed big league debut against the Chicago Cubs. So, rather than ignore the young fans who watched his bullpen session, Anderson did a little something out of the ordinary and scribbled his signature a handful of times before the Mariners beat the Cubs 5-4 in walk-off fashion.
Growing up in Slidell, Louisiana, Anderson didn't go to many major league games. But, Anderson used to hound LSU baseball players for autographs as a kid, so he was more than willing to lend a few minutes of his time.
"That's what it's all about at the end of the day, to go out there and pitch for the fans," Anderson said. "... You just got to give back to those kids."
Anderson, the third pick in the 2025 draft out of LSU, became the first player from his draft class to make his major league debut. He looked the part of one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, too, for most of the evening.
#Mariners
The 22-year-old Anderson got done with his warmup routine on Saturday quicker than usual before his much-ballyhooed big league debut against the Chicago Cubs. So, rather than ignore the young fans who watched his bullpen session, Anderson did a little something out of the ordinary and scribbled his signature a handful of times before the Mariners beat the Cubs 5-4 in walk-off fashion.
Growing up in Slidell, Louisiana, Anderson didn't go to many major league games. But, Anderson used to hound LSU baseball players for autographs as a kid, so he was more than willing to lend a few minutes of his time.
"That's what it's all about at the end of the day, to go out there and pitch for the fans," Anderson said. "... You just got to give back to those kids."
Anderson, the third pick in the 2025 draft out of LSU, became the first player from his draft class to make his major league debut. He looked the part of one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, too, for most of the evening.
#Mariners
23 days ago
