With the eighth overall pick, the Blue Jays could select… Kade Anderson?
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Jul 5, 2025, 08:00 EDTUpdated: Jul 4, 2025, 22:00 EDT
Rounding out the draft profiles for the projected top 10 picks in the 2025 draft, we have left-handed collegiate pitcher Kade Anderson. He’s not the only left-handed collegiate pitcher who’ll likely go in the top 10, as both Jamie Arnold and Liam Doyle are likely top 10 picks as well.
In this article, we’ll look at Anderson, and if you missed the last draft profile, we took a look at Ethan Holliday.
Kade Anderson’s bio
Born in Mandeville, Louisiana, Anderson has spent the past two seasons at Louisiana State, missing the entirety of his 2023 season due to recovering from Tommy John surgery. Standing at 6’2”, 179 lbs, the left-handed pitcher is ranked as MLB Pipeline’s second-best draft-eligible prospect.
The Blue Jays have selected four players from the state of Louisiana in the first round: Augie Schmidt (1982, second overall), Joey Pursell (1981, 12th overall), Aaron Hill (2003, 13th overall), and Joe Lawrence (1996, 16th overall). Overall, they’ve selected 63 players from the state, with 46 players signing. Of the 14 high school players the Jays have selected from Louisiana, only four have signed, Lawrence being one of them.
In total, the Blue Jays have selected 14 players from Louisiana State, the most recent being Cade Doughty after the second round of the 2022 draft. Doughty is the only LSU player drafted by the Jays since Ross Atkins and Mark Shapiro took over.
The most recent Blue Jays’ pick from the state of Louisiana is Grant Rogers, who was selected in the 11th round of the 2023 draft from McNeese State.
Kade Anderson’s stats
After receiving Tommy John surgery in 2022, Anderson missed the entirety of his High School senior season and collegiate freshman season. He returned to action in 2024 with LSU, being used as a spot starter. In 18 games, Anderson started nine of them and had a 3.99 ERA and 3.25 FIP in 38.1 innings pitched.
His breakout season was in 2025, as the left-handed pitcher finished with a 3.18 ERA and 2.93 FIP in 119 innings pitched, with all 19 of his appearances being starts. Moreover, Anderson finished with a 37.4 K% and 7.3 BB%, as his velocity ticked up before the 2025 season. His LSU Tigers won the College World Series.
Kade Anderson’s tools
According to Anderson’s MLB Pipeline scouting report, although he sits 92-94 mph and reaches 97 mph, what makes his fastball so good is the carry it has. Paired with above-average breaking pitches (curveball and slider) and a plus changeup, Anderson has a good starter’s pitch mix.
Anderson also has above-average command as he tends to fill up the zone. MLB Pipeline believes he has a high ceiling and floor.
Kade Anderson’s grades
As always, let’s take a look at Anderson’s grades according to MLB Pipeline.
Tool | Grade |
Fastball | 60 |
Changeup | 60 |
Slider | 55 |
Curveball | 55 |
Control | 55 |
Is Kade Anderson a fit for the Blue Jays?
If Anderson somehow falls to the Blue Jays, there’s a high likelihood that he’d be the best player available, just like Holliday. Also like Holliday, it doesn’t seem likely Anderson will drop to the eighth overall pick.
In MLB Pipeline’s most recent mock draft, they have the Washington Nationals selecting him first overall, as does Baseball America’s most recent mock draft. Shockingly, CBS’ most recent mock draft also has Anderson going first overall, so yeah, the chances of falling to the Blue Jays are slim to none.
That said, he’d instantly become the Jays’ top prospect if he were to somehow fall to them.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.