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LSU ace Kade Anderson named Baseball America’s College Pitcher of the Year

Untitled design (1)by: Julie Boudwin06/26/25
NCAA Baseball: College World Series-Coastal Carolina v LSU
Jun 22, 2025; Omaha, Neb, USA; LSU Tigers pitcher Kade Anderson (32) accepts the award for most outstanding player after winning the College World Series at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Kade Anderson’s 2025 season was already one of the best in the country before LSU arrived in Omaha. But by the time the Tigers clinched the national championship and celebrated on the mound, Anderson had put the finishing touches on one of the most dominant pitching runs in recent memory.

This week, the sophomore left-hander was named Baseball America’s first-ever College Pitcher of the Year, adding another accolade to his growing list of honors.

Anderson’s postseason heroics cemented his legacy. Over 16 innings in the College World Series, he allowed just one run and racked up 17 strikeouts, including a complete-game shutout in the title-clinching win over Coastal Carolina. It marked only the third shutout ever thrown in a CWS final. His performance earned him the Most Outstanding Player award and gave LSU the boost it needed to secure its eighth national title.

“He’s got a way of playing with hitters,” LSU shortstop Steven Milam told Baseball America. “It’s like he’s always in control.”

“He wants to embarrass you,” Milam continued.

Anderson finished the season with a 3.18 ERA and led the nation with 180 strikeouts across 119 innings. He struck out 10 or more batters in more than half of his starts, walked just 35, and rarely showed signs of pressure—even against SEC heavyweights or in the championship spotlight.

His success comes from more than just velocity. Anderson mixes a fastball in the low-to-mid 90s with two breaking balls: a high-spin curveball and slider, both of which can exceed 3,000 rpm and are thrown confidently in any count.

“He’s like a lion out there,” LSU outfielder Derek Curiel said. “It’s not just the stuff. It’s the confidence and the feel. The way he attacks.”

That killer instinct has made Anderson one of the most talked-about prospects in the upcoming MLB Draft. Once a Day 1 name, he’s now widely projected as a top-10 pick—and even in consideration for the No. 1 overall spot. The 2025 draft is July 13-14 in Atlanta.

As LSU head coach Jay Johnson said it best in Omaha: “His next pitch should be for someplace in the Washington Nationals organization. It’s not close.”

Anderson leaves Baton Rouge with a 3.38 career ERA and 239 strikeouts in 157.1 innings.

“You’re getting a competitor,” LSU third baseman Michael Braswell said of Anderson. “An ace in the rotation. One of the youngest draft-eligible arms out there, and he’s just going to keep getting better.”

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