While his time in Tacoma lasted just six games, Emerson did not look his age, crushing opposing pitching. Between three levels in 2025, his age-19 season, he put up an .842 OPS while walking 11.8% of the time.

It’s increasingly clear that the Mariners are in need of infielders. Eugenio Suarez was acquired at the deadline but is currently a free agent. As it stands today, the starting options at second and third base for 2026 are Cole Young (.607 OPS in 77 games in 2025), Leo Rivas (.721 OPS in 48 games), and Miles Mastrobuoni (.620 OPS in 76 games).

Despite just 40 games at the Double-A and Triple-A level, Emerson might be primed for an Opening Day job at shortstop. While J.P. Crawford has had this job for seven years in Seattle, his -13 OAA may necessitate a shift to the right side of the diamond.

LHP Kade Anderson (Just Baseball No. 31)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JULY 13: Major League Baseball commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. announces Kade Anderson as the third overall pick, by the Seattle Mariners, in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft at Coca-Cola Roxy on July 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Many may be confused about the potential for Anderson to be called up, given that he hasn’t thrown a single pitch at the minor league level. But alas, they have not watched LSU baseball.

At the D-I level in 2025, Anderson was a workhorse. He threw 119 innings, good for first in the SEC by a wide margin. After throwing to a 3.18 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, Anderson became one of just three pitchers in all of D-I baseball to throw at least 100 innings with a sub-4.00 ERA.

As a result of this, as well as a 5.1 K/BB ratio, Anderson heard his name called third on draft day by Seattle. While he definitely has a lack of professional experience in the minor leagues, the big key that sets him apart is his ability to throw deep into games. While many minor leaguers aren’t throwing past the fifth inning, Anderson’s 119 innings were thrown over just 19 outings.

There’s certainly a chance that Anderson spends 2026 in Double-A and Triple-A. But the last time someone went to LSU and threw at least 119 innings at that level, he started the All-Star Game and won Rookie of the Year with the Pirates the next season.

Is Kade Anderson going to put up the same numbers as a rookie Paul Skenes? Probably not. Could he be a major part of the Mariners rotation in 2026? Certainly.