The Seattle Mariners' pitching prospects are a hot topic, with Ryan Sloan and Kade Anderson at the forefront. While both are highly touted, Sloan's ranking by Baseball America as the top pitching prospect and sixth overall is a subject of debate. The article delves into the factors that contribute to Sloan's higher ranking, including his age and the quality of his pitches. Sloan's fastball, changeup, and sweeper are ranked as 60-grade pitches, and he has shown dominance with a career-high 11 strikeouts in six perfect innings. Anderson, on the other hand, has been mostly untouchable in his first 10 pro starts, leading the Texas League with a 1.29 ERA over 49 innings. However, Sloan's higher ranking by Baseball America is not without controversy, as Anderson is also performing well and is a year and a half older. The article explores the factors that contribute to Sloan's higher ranking, including his age and the quality of his pitches. It also discusses the broader implications of the rankings and the potential impact on the Mariners' future. In my opinion, the rankings are a reflection of the Mariners' ability to develop pitching, and both Sloan and Anderson are valuable assets to the team. However, Sloan's higher ranking by Baseball America is a subject of debate, and it will be interesting to see how their careers unfold.
