NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – On Friday night, fans at CHI St. Vincent Field at Dickey-Stephens Park got to witness fireworks after the game for the first time in 2026.
During the game, fans got a double-dose of excitement as the Arkansas Travelers earned a 5-0 win on the strength of Kade Anderson’s dominant 11-strikeout performance in his North Little Rock debut.
Anderson was selected by the Seattle Mariners with the No. 3 pick in the 2025 MLB draft after a star-studded college career with LSU. His collegiate career culminated with LSU winning the 2025 College World Series and Anderson being named the Most Outstanding Player.
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After participating in Spring Training with the Mariners in March, the team assigned him to Double-A to start his professional career with the Travelers. In his debut on the road against the Midland RockHounds, Anderson struck out six in four innings, with one walk and five hits.
In front of a crowd of more than 4,700, Anderson was sharp from the start, striking out three of the first four batters he faced, which included top prospects in the Minnesota Twins system.
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By the time Bill Knight singled in the bottom of the 4th inning to bring home Charlie Pagliarini and Jared Sundstrom, Anderson had struck out 10 of the first 14 batters he faced and the Travs led 3-0.
Anderson exited the field after recording 11 strikeouts, no hits and two walks in five innings pitched. For the season, he now has 17 strikeouts, which is tied for most in the Texas League alongside an impressive .89 WHIP and a minuscule .156 average against.
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Not only did the Travs’ bullpen hold on for the win, but Charlie Beilenson, Peyton Alford and Nick Davila combined to add eight more strikeouts. Anderson received credit for the win, giving him the first of his career and even more reason to watch the fireworks lighting up the night sky.
On Saturday night, the Travs’ other top 100 pitching prospect Ryan Sloan takes the hill hoping to improve upon his first Double-A start against Midland in which he struck out four and gave up four runs in four innings…