Seattle's night started with the LSU legend everyone in the sport had circled on the calendar. Kade Anderson, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 draft and MLB's No. 5 overall prospect, got the ball against the Cubs at T-Mobile Park for his first career big league start. He came in off a 10-1, 1.06 ERA season at Double-A Arkansas, and the hype was not subtle.
LSU legend Kade Anderson Major League debut starting against Cubs in Seattle tonight. Been dominant in minors.
Anderson delivered pretty quickly, too. He punched out Alex Bregman for his first career strikeout, a moment that had the T-Mobile Park crowd on its feet.
First career K for Kade……yeahhhh he’s nasty! https://t.co/opszzG7zSz
The debut wasn't a flawless storybook outing, though. Bregman took Anderson deep for his 19th homer of the season to tie the game, and the Cubs followed it up with back-to-back home runs the very next inning to grab the lead, with Michael Busch part of the flurry. Suddenly a rookie's big moment turned into a get-out-alive situation, and Big Cat wasn't shy about pointing out who bailed Seattle out.
Bregman with a rude present for the rookie, tie game! https://t.co/wXr7XIZAO6
That's when Arozarena took over. He'd already gone deep earlier in the game, hunting a first pitch and depositing it for his 18th homer of the season, part of an All-Star campaign that has him flirting with another 20-20 year.
Randy hunting the first pitch and sends this one outta here https://t.co/4VtIJacqyA
He wasn't done showing off, either. Arozarena also robbed a home run at the wall earlier in the game, going full "NOT UP IN HERE" mode against Cubs outfielder S. Amaya to keep the score close while Anderson was still battling on the mound.
Randy says “NOT UP IN HERE!” And takes a homer away! https://t.co/CcXbhPi2q3
But the real headline came with the Mariners down to their last out. Arozarena stepped up and launched his second homer of the night — his 19th of the season — a walk-off blast that turned a back-and-forth slugfest into a 5-4 Seattle win over the Cubs, capping a night that started with a pitching prospect's debut and ended with an established star stealing the show.
Down to their last out!!!!! RANDY WITH THE WALK-OFF https://t.co/qepYdO988D
For Anderson, it's a debut he'll remember for the strikeouts and the scoreboard chaos alike — a reminder that even the most hyped rookies get thrown into the fire against a lineup that includes Bregman. For Arozarena and the Mariners, it's just another chapter in a season where he keeps finding ways to be the guy at the center of the highlight reel, robbery and all.