The Seattle Mariners’ top pitching prospects, Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan, have quickly formed a close friendship during this year’s spring training, according to a March 20 report. The two young pitchers, who only met this past winter, have become inseparable both on and off the field.
Their growing relationship is seen as significant for the team’s future. As highly ranked prospects in the Mariners organization, their ability to support and challenge each other could help shape the next generation of homegrown talent for Seattle.
Mariners manager Dan Wilson said, “To see those two guys kind of coming together like they have in the camp, be very new together, but go through it together, I think that’s important. I think they can lean on each other. They can push one another. … Just that communication that can go on between players to know that you’re not alone.” Anderson and Sloan have been active participants throughout camp—competing against major league hitters early on and later impressing in Cactus League games before being reassigned to Minor League camp. Both pitched in the Spring Breakout game against Brewers’ prospects; Sloan delivered three perfect innings with three strikeouts while Anderson followed with two innings.
Anderson described their dynamic: “We kind of just work off of each other. We’re kind of fighting against each other in some ways, and it’s fun to battle against him. They’re always super competitive. So just just being able to go in there and just kind of just talk and learn what he’s got to offer for me. It’s been a lot of fun. He’s really smart. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, and you can learn a lot from him as well.” Their backgrounds differ—Anderson was last year’s College World Series MVP at LSU while Sloan was drafted out of high school in Illinois—but both are among Seattle’s top-ranked prospects by MLB Pipeline.
Wilson also said, “With Sloan being such a younger player and not having the experience in college that Kade did, I think there’s a lot to be learned there, too. So I think the two of them really having a good relationship is extremely important.” Veteran pitcher Logan Gilbert added advice for both: “Just be yourself and know you’re good enough and don’t think, am I stepping on toes or whatever. You’re a part of this group… It’s natural. It’s genuine.” Sloan reflected on his experience: “It’s funny how just like me they are… There’s not huge differences between us… So just being able to pick up on things that they do well.”
As the Mariners look ahead to building one of baseball’s strongest rotations, team culture—and relationships like Anderson’s and Sloan’s—are expected to play an important role.
