What a rise it has been for left-hander pitcher Kade Anderson. Two seasons ago, Anderson missed his senior season at St. Paul’s after undergoing Tommy John Surgery on his throwing elbow during his junior season.
After an up and down freshman campaign at LSU, Anderson became the ace the Tigers needed to win their 8th national championship in school history.
Anderson was the best pitcher in college baseball in 2025, going 12-1 in 19 starts and leading the nation in strikeouts with 180 in 119 innings.
Two years ago, Paul Skenes struck out 209 hitters and was picked number one by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2023 MLB draft.
On Sunday night, Anderson is expected to be the third LSU player to be selected number one in the Major League Baseball draft. Ben McDonald is the other.
The mock drafts conducted by ESPN, the Athletic and MLB.com have the Washington Nationals using its number one pick to select Anderson.
“He stands out as a lefty that has super advanced feel for four really good pitches, and I think he can throw even harder,” said D1.baseball.com college baseball reporter Aaron Fitt.
Anderson’s fastball during the season was 92-94 miles per hour, but he’s thrown as hard as 97.
Anderson also features a slider, changeup and curveball.
He’s considered a safe pick for the Nationals, who just fired general manager Mike Rizzo. The Nationals are in last place in the National League East and the main reason is that the Nats have struggled to draft and develop players.
Anderson might not be the only first round pick from LSU. Tigers’ right-hander Anthony Eyanson is expected to be a late first round pick or a possible supplemental first round selection.
ESPN.com’s mock draft has the Tampa Bay Rays using the 37th pick to take Eyanson, while the Athletic believes Eyanson could go number 27 to the Cleveland Guardians.
The first three rounds of the MLB draft will be Sunday, and two other LSU players could be selected on Sunday.
Right-handed pitcher Chase Shores’s stock rose by throwing 100 miles per hour as a reliever in May and June.
But Fitt says Shores could return for his redshirt junior season and show that he can be an ace as a starter.
“He could bet on himself and say hey I can come back and continue to progress and be a Top 5 pitch next year,” said Fitt.
Designated hitter and outfielder Ethan Frey will also have a decision to make. The breakout star in 2025 could improve his draft stock with another season at LSU.
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“I don’t know how much he would really boost his stock,” Fitt said. “That feels more of a gamble to me, I think he probably goes out this year as a three to five round pick and probably gets that pro career started that’s what I would expect.”
LSU coach Jay Johnson wants both Shores and Frey back next season, and the Tigers are enticing both to stay with revenue sharing and NIL dollars.