How Mariners’ Randy Arozarena saved Kade Anderson’s MLB debut in field before winning it at plate

Kade Anderson, who was the third overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, made his major league debut for the Seattle Mariners on Saturday. Anderson went five and two-thirds innings in the game, and Randy Arozarena was the hero. Arozarena hit the walk-off home run against the Chicago Cubs.

While Arozarena was a hero at the plate on Saturday, it was his work in the field that may have saved Anderson’s debut, per ESPN.

Anderson gave up three runs in 5.2 innings of work, including two home runs. Both home runs came in the top of the sixth inning and were both solo shots that led to Anderson leaving the game. The debut could have been worse, though. In the third inning, Miguel Amaya sent a shot deep to left field, but Arozarena robbed him of a home run.

“I thought it was way gone,” Anderson said of Arozarena’s play. “I’m honestly grateful that ball stayed in the park.”

While Anderson needed heroics from Arozarena in the field to help his stat line, his heroics at the plate saved him from registering his first loss of the year. Regardless, manager Dan Wilson thought the rookie pitched well.

“The way he used all of his stuff, you saw everything today,” Wilson said. “He wasn’t afraid to throw anything in any count, and I just thought for a first time out there, he looked very, very comfortable, and that’s a great sign.”

The Mariners are now 62-68 on the season, which places them in third in the AL West, but just three games behind the Houston Astros for the division lead. The team is also two games behind the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Guardians for the final wild card spot in the American League. They finish their series with the Chicago Cubs on Sunday afternoon.

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