LSU’s Kade Anderson likely has just one last appearance in college baseball before being selected very early in the 2025 MLB Draft.
The left-handed pitcher has been sensational for the Tigers all season, which has subsequently improved his draft stock substantially. Entering the College World Series finals vs. Coastal Carolina, Anderson has an 11-1 record with a 3.44 ERA this season in 110 innings pitched with a nation-leading 170 strikeouts. His 110 innings this season also lead the country.
Anderson will be one of, if not the highest-picked college pitchers in 2025, a year that’s loaded with high-end arms. He’s also one of the youngest college pitchers available, as he’s a draft-eligible sophomore.
Here’s a look at the latest MLB draft projections for Anderson, who’s expected to pitch Game 1 of the national championship against Coastal Carolina:
Kade Anderson MLB mock draft projections
Here are the latest MLB draft projections for Anderson:
USA TODAY: First round, No. 5 overall to St. Louis CardinalsESPN: First round, No. 1 overall to Washington NationalsMLB.com: First round, No. 2 overall to Los Angeles AngelsThe Athletic: First round, No. 3 overall to Seattle MarinersCBS Sports: First round, No. 3 overall to Seattle Mariners
Anderson is expected to be drafted in the top five of the 2025 MLB Draft, with Gabe Lacques of the USA TODAY Sports Network predicting him to go No. 5 overall to the St. Louis Cardinals. Anderson also has chance at going No. 1 overall, according to ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel. With only a few weeks until the MLB draft, there’s still not a consensus No. 1 overall pick.
“The conversation around who will go No. 1 continues to be wide open and will be until draft day, but Anderson’s strong finish to the season has him looking like the slight favorite over Ethan Holliday as the top pick,” McDaniel wrote for ESPN.
MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis writes the Angels are likely to draft a college pitcher, choosing between Anderson and Tennessee’s Liam Doyle.
“Anderson has established himself as the best college arm available, and that’s the demographic that the Angels appear to be targeting. If the Nationals take Anderson, then (Jamie)Arnold may be Plan B after outpitching Doyle down the stretch.”
Kade Anderson stats
Here’s a look at Anderson’s college stats through two seasons with the Tigers:
2024 (freshman): 4-2 record with 3.99 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 38 1/3 innings. 2025 (sophomore): 11-1 record with 3.44 ERA and 170 strikeouts in 110 innings
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Kade Anderson MLB mock draft: Where LSU pitcher is being projected
