Where is Kade Anderson going in MLB draft? Mock draft projections for LSU ace

Following the historic complete game shutout in Game 1 of the College World Series championship series, LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson voiced his opinion that Kade Anderson, the architect of the shutout, would be the sure-fire No.

1 pick in the MLB draft."His next pitch should be somewhere in the Washington Nationals organization.

It's not close," Johnson said.

"...

There's nobody closer to the Major Leagues than that right now."Anderson was that good for the national champion Tigers this season, as the 6-foot-2 southpaw improved in all facets of his game and became the top pitcher in the country by recording a nation-best 180 strikeouts and an impressive 12-1 record in 19 starts.Anderson's sophomore season for the Tigers has been put up there with other LSU pitching legends such as Paul Skenes, who went No.

1 overall in the MLB draft after leading LSU to the national championship in 2023 for all-time single-season performances.Widely expected to be taken by the Washington Nationals at No.

1 overall, as his coach suggested, Anderson is one of the youngest eligible pitchers in this year's MLB draft class.

He was named the Most Outstanding Player at the College World Series and a member of the All-SEC First Team.Here's a look at Anderson's latest MLB draft projections:Kade Anderson MLB mock draft projections Anderson's performance in the NCAA baseball tournament and College World Series moved the LSU ace up to being considered the No.

1 overall pick in the MLB draft by draft experts.

He is ranked as the No.

3 prospect in the 2025 MLB Draft class by The Athletic's Keith Law.Here's a closer look at where experts have Anderson going in the first round, including their evaluations of him:USA TODAY: No.

2 overall to the Los Angeles AngelsHere's what USA TODAY's Gabe Lacques wrote about Anderson going to the Angels:"What a finishing kick for Anderson, who pitched a three-hit shutout against Coastal Carolina in the championship round of the College World Series, which followed a three-hit, seven-inning effort to beat Arkansas.

Good luck splitting hairs between Anderson, Jamie Arnold and Liam Doyle, but well side with Andersons K rate (NCAA-best 180 in 110 innings) and devastating pitch mix (think Max Fried, only firmer) with a rapid promotion in the offing in Anaheim."MLB Pipeline: No.

1 overall to the Washington NationalsHere's what MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis wrote about Anderson going to the Nationals:"Anderson fills a greater need and will get to Washington quicker than Holliday, and he might cost a little less as well.

If we're assigning percentage chances for this pick, I'd say Anderson 45 percent, Holliday 40 percent, Arquette 5 percent, Hernandez 5 percent, Willits 5 percent."The Athletic: No.

1 overall to the NationalsHere's what Law wrote about Anderson going to the Nationals:"As far as I can tell, the Nats are still working with a list of six-to-seven candidates for this pick, although I get the sense its more likely to be one of Anderson, Aiva Arquette, or Ethan Holliday than one of the others (Liam Doyle, Jamie Arnold, Eli Willits, maybe Seth Hernandez).

Given the ill-timed firing or scapegoating of GM Mike Rizzo on Sunday, I think its less likely they take Holliday or Hernandez than it was previously.

The change in leadership might just make them more likely to take a college player whos more likely to yield a quicker return, and fortunately this year there are several such college guys whod be strong picks here, including Anderson, who didnt so much help himself with his College World Series performance as underline what hed already shown."Kade Anderson stats Here's a year-by-year breakdown of Anderson's collegiate stats:2024: 4-2 record with a 3.99 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 38 1/3 innings of work while allowing 38 hits, 22 runs (17 earned runs) and 20 walks2025: 12-1 record with a 3.18 ERA and 180 strikeouts in 119 innings of work while allowing 91 hits, 44 runs (42 earned runs) and 35 walksThis article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Kade Anderson MLB draft: Latest mock draft projections for LSU ace.

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