The LSU Tigers have become a bit of a pitching powerhouse, churning out elite arms with consistency. First came Paul Skenes in 2023, and now they have produced another hard-throwing phenom. We are talking about Kade Anderson, yes. It is now his turn to take center stage. The 2025 Baseball America College Pitcher of the Year is all set to arrive in the major league.

There is an uncanny resemblance between Skenes and Anderson’s entry to the major league. Anderson bursting to the biggest stage is a striking deja vu for the fans who have witnessed how Skenes announced his arrival back in 2023. Remember the 2023 MLB draft?

Skenes was the No. 1 pick of the 2023 MLB draft, landed by the Pirates. Now, Anderson is projected to be the first pick of the 2025 MLB mock draft. Moreover, in 2023, Skenes was named the College World Series Most Outstanding Player. The same has been replicated by Anderson this year. Talk about the best young throwing arms in baseball in recent times and you will have LSU’s imprint all over.

Kade Anderson had a season to remember, especially in the College World Series. He played a key role in helping LSU clinch its eighth national championship. Moreover, he finished the year with a stellar 12-1 record, racking up 180 strikeouts over 119 innings.

In the recently concluded College World Series, Anderson posted a 0.56 ERA and gave up just one run across 16 innings! As ridiculous as it may sound, this is what he did. While it is expected that suitors will be behind a rookie with such numbers, but the Washington Nationals have a strong reason to land him.

So, Washington has some promising young arms in their system. They got MacKenzie Gore, who is already turning heads and might just be the best strikeout pitcher in the game right now (3.09 ERA in 17 starts). Then they’ve got two top-100 pitching prospects in Travis Syroka (ranked No. 55) and Jarlin Susana (No. 59). However, both are still a couple of years away from bursting into the limelight of the big leagues.

Now, with the first overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, someone like Kade Anderson is the perfect choice for the Nationals. They wouldn’t want to repeat the blunder that they made with Juan Soto.

But hey, let’s talk a bit more about LSU and how they keep producing quality young arms.

How do the LSU Tigers produce extraordinary young pitchers?

“I think we’re at the forefront of developing pitching in college baseball,” LSU’s coach Jay Johnson said.

Well, if there’s one program that’s become synonymous with elite pitching in college baseball, it’s LSU. They have built a reputation not just for winning, but for developing arms that are built for the big stage. And you’ve got the proofs all over. But how is it made possible?

Well, it all starts with recruiting. LSU has made it a priority to scout and sign some of the best high school pitchers in the country. LSU under Johnson locates the arms with raw talent, and then it’s their grooming and development program that produces extraordinary products like Skenes.

There’s a reason why the team appeared in the College World Series for the second time in the last 3 years. From Kevin Gausman to Paul Skenes and now Kade Anderson, LSU is the powerhouse when it comes to producing frontline arms.