Getting the first pick in the MLB Draft comes with a lot of scrutiny and excitement. And the Nationals are currently under scrutiny. After 2010, they’re all set to pick their first draft on July 13, which is scheduled in the middle of All-Star Week. All eyes are fixed on the Nationals, then. Who would they pick?

Well, this pitcher from LSU has got everyone talking. He doesn’t just throw hard, and he’s not just a flash in the pan reliever. He’s a full starter with a 3,225 rpm curveball, a mid-90s fastball, a changeup, and a slider that all work together. His two complete-game shutouts, 10Ks, and mid-130 pitch count in Omaha show that he’s not just polished, but also ready to be a pro. Any idea who we are talking about?

It’s none other than college pitcher of the year, Kade Anderson. The sophomore at LSU has pitched two full games that have kept his team alive in the CWS. And his head coach, Jay Johnson, talks highly of him. In the candid conversation with MLB Network, he said, “He’s got the pitch ability. He’s got the head… strikes. He’s everything that you would ever want. And I said my plug in the postgame the other day, like the Nationals. Don’t need to overthink this one. That’s your guy. He is closer to the big leagues than any amateur player in the country right now.”

And that’s not it, earlier in one of the press conferences, Johnson compared him to Paul Skenes. He told, “He’s the best pitcher in college baseball… We had the best pitcher on the planet two years ago [Paul Skenes] in a similar situation…I’ve felt like Kade’s had a very similar season.”

In 2023, Paul Skenes was LSU’s top pitcher, finishing with a 13–2 record and a 1.69 ERA over 122.2 innings. He set an SEC record by striking out 209 batters while walking just 20, holding opponents to a .165 batting average. Skenes was also named the Most Outstanding Player at the CWS, where he had a 1.15 ERA and 21 strikeouts.

And Kade Anderson’s 2025 season was a great one! It included a 12–1 record, a 3.18 ERA, and 180 strikeouts with only 35 walks, which was very similar to Skenes’ mix of domination and calmness in key games. When asked about the comparisons with Skenes. Anderson was just amused because he is a “legend.”

His draft is not just another hype. He has the most strikeouts (168) and ERA (3.28) in the NCAA this season. A career-changing post-season, indeed.

The Nationals are in a great spot to get a possible rotation anchor. The draft is only two weeks away. Will the Nationals pick him? Because if they do, he will make history.

How the Nationals’ picking Kade Anderson could rewrite draft history

Kade Anderson, LSU’s top lefty, might set a record by entering the MLB Draft. If the Washington Nationals decide to pick him first overall. You know he will be the sixth left-handed pitcher ever drafted at No. 1? And with that, he can join greats like David Clyde (1973), Floyd Bannister (1976), David Price (2007), and Brady Aiken (2014). And that’s not it.

Anderson would be the first collegiate pitcher ever picked No. 1 after having Tommy John surgery. This is a significant milestone because of the surgery he had in April 2022 while still in high school. It also demonstrates the effectiveness of modern rehabilitation programs.

Anderson has impressive stats. It also includes being selected as a First-Team All-American, the College World Series Most Outstanding Player, and Baseball America’s 2025 Pitcher of the Year. Those honors show why the Nationals’ possible pick might be a game-changer and make history.