Mariners' Ryan Sloan: Opening age-20 season at Double-A
Rotowire
Sloan is opening the season with Double-A Arkansas, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Few prospects generated more rave reviews this spring than Sloan, whose already plus fastball jumped a couple ticks and now sits around 97 mph. Sloan, who could be the game's top pitching prospect in a couple months, only made three starts at High-A last year, so this is a big vote of confidence. Per the report, the initial plan was to assign Sloan to High-A Everett, but the calculus changed after he made such a strong impression this spring. The less volatile weather conditions in Arkansas compared to the Pacific Northwest in April also factored into the decision. What makes the assignment even more notable is that the Mariners have a track record of jumping their best pitching prospects from Double-A to the majors, bypassing the Pacific Coast League. Kade Anderson, the Mariners' other premium pitching prospect, is also opening the year at Double-A.
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Mariners' Ryan Sloan: Impressive spring debut
Rotowire
Sloan pitched a scoreless inning in his Cactus League debut against the Rangers on Sunday, striking out one in a perfect frame.
Sloan lived up to the hype in his spring debut -- the righty needed just 12 pitches to set down Texas in order while touching 99 mph with his fastball. The 20-year-old Sloan posted a 3.73 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP and an impressive 90:15 K:BB across 21 starts (82 innings) last year between Single-A and High-A, his first season as a professional. Sloan will look to establish himself as one of the game's premier pitching prospects in 2026.
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Mariners' Ryan Sloan: Back in action after eye procedure
Rotowire
Sloan (eye) threw a live batting practice session Sunday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Despite having yet to pitch above the High-A level, Sloan didn't look out of place while facing off against some of the Mariners' top hitters in Cal Raleigh, Randy Arozarena and Josh Naylor during the BP session. According to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times, the 20-year-old righty sported a four-seamer that hit 99 miles per hour and a two-seamer that reached 98 mph. Sloan missed the final month of the 2025 campaign after undergoing a procedure on his eye, but he's seemingly free of restrictions heading into 2026 and could establish himself as one of the game's top pitching prospects if health prevails this season.
