MLB Draft Prospect Profile: Kade Anderson Could Be the Crown of the Class

This is one in a series of breakdowns of the top prospects available in the 2025 MLB Draft.

Two years after the Pittsburgh Pirates took Paul Skenes with the top pick of the 2023 draft, another LSU pitcher is vying to hear his name called first.

Like Skenes, Kade Anderson helped lead the Tigers to a College World Series title after a dominant season in Baton Rouge. The left-hander led college baseball with 180 strikeouts in 119 innings and went 12-1 with a 3.18 ERA across 19 starts.

Anderson threw a complete game shutout against Coastal Carolina in the first game of the College World Series. He allowed just three hits, walked five, struck out 10 and needed a whopping 130 pitches to finish off the game.

KADE ANDERSON 130-PITCH COMPLETE GAME SHUTOUT pic.twitter.com/ZWw8wBWsZW

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 22, 2025

Anderson, who turns 21 years old on Sunday is listed at 6-foot-2 and 179 pounds and has a four-pitch mix.

His best pitches are a lively fastball and changeup, both of which are plus-offerings according to MLB Pipeline. He also features a slider and curveball, both of which are considered above-average pitches, giving him an impressive arsenal with solid command.

Anderson’s floor and ceiling are both high, and talent evaluators feel like he will become a frontline starter in the big leagues one day. He’s considered by many to be the top pitcher available in this year’s draft and the top prospect overall by others.

The chances of Anderson dropping to the sixth pick for the Pittsburgh Pirates are zero, and there’s a good chance he could go first overall to the Washington Nationals. Watching him pitch, it’s easy to see why teams are so high on him.