Mariners' Double-A team is a must-see after crucial prospect decisions

The first week of the Mariners' regular season is now in the past. Although the results may have been less than ideal thus far, fans still have the minor league season to look forward to. The Mariners' Double-A affiliate, the Arkansas Travelers, looks particularly exciting with a lineup consisting of two top prospects in Lazaro Montes and Michael Arroyo. However, the rotation may be even more impressive now that Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan will be starting the season with the team.

By starting the year in Double-A, Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan are already on the doorstep of the big leagues

For many players, making it to Double-A is the penultimate step before getting called up. The common belief is that the move to Double-A is the biggest jump in competition one can have before making their debut. Both Bryan Woo and Bryce Miller made it to the majors before Triple-A, and they've been mildly successful with the team thus far.

Thanks to his two years with LSU, there's considerable scouting data on Anderson even though he has yet to make his minor league debut. Across 157.1 college innings, he posted a 3.38 ERA with 13.7 K/9. The strikeout figure is particularly impressive given his fastball tends to sit in the low-90s, but the shape of the pitch along with some quality secondary offerings has made him a tough assignment nonetheless.

For Ryan Sloan, who was drafted out of high school, his greatest body of work was the 82 minor-league innings he pitched in 2025, posting a 3.37 ERA and a 3.18 FIP. Similar to Anderson, his fastball has good ride in the zone, but his velocity is a tick higher, sitting in the mid-90s. Furthermore, scouts noted that he has already demonstrated an exceptional ability to throw strikes and has everything it takes to be an elite prospect.

So not only will this Arkansas Travelers roster have a solid chance of winning the Texas League, fans will be getting a closer look at two arms that could both feasibly compete for the title of "ace" in the Mariners rotation. Seattle is still a couple of years away before losing their most tenured arms to free agency, but it's clear the organization is already thinking ahead.

The year will be an important test for both Anderson and Sloan, neither of whom have really pitched at this level or with these expectations. Anderson's time in the SEC, one of the more elite divisions in college baseball, could be comparable, but one's time in the minor leagues is as much about learning as it is about performing. There's still a chance one of them could get called up before the year is over but even if not, they're bound to shine in the minors in the interim.