M’S Top Pick Aims To Be Best Pitcher In Majors

He stands 6-foot-10, has a fastball that tops 90 miles per hour and has been told he has unbelievable “top end” potential. So the newest member of the Seattle Mariners organization, Ryan Anderson, doesn’t hesitate in saying, “I feel that I’m going to be the best pitcher ever in major league baseball.”

Anderson, the Mariners’ top pick in the June draft, officially signed with Seattle on Wednesday and proclaimed he expects to equal and maybe surpass the accomplishments of his idol Randy Johnson, the current Mariners ace.

The Mariners gave Anderson, nearly a clone of Johnson, a $2.18 million bonus in hopes that he can become Seattle’s second Cy Young Award winner, joining Johnson.

Anderson’s words are bold, but he does come highly touted.

“I’ve scouted for 20 years,” said M’s scout Ken Madeja. “He’s basically the complete package. You don’t see that too often. It’s just up to him now to put it all together.”

Anderson’s signing bonus is the second-highest given to this year’s group of draftees, although the top three picks have yet to sign. It is easily the most Seattle has offered a draft pick.

Anderson, who said he’d like to be in the majors within two years, has spent the past few months working out with his high school pitching coach. He will report to the Mariners’ instructional league Tuesday in Arizona. He will be invited to the major league spring training camp in February.

For the curious

Here’s a comparison since July 31 (through Tuesday’s games) of the Mariners left fielders to Jose Cruz Jr., who was traded to Toronto. Cruz: .247, 11 homers, 27 RBIs, 27 runs.

The combination of Lee Tinsley, Rich Amaral, Rob Ducey and Roberto Kelly has given the Mariners a .246 average, six homers, 12 RBIs and 16 runs.

Coming up

Several thousand seats are available for tonight’s game in which Jeff Fassero (15-8, 3.74) will try to win a career-high 16th game. He opposes Brian Moehler (10-10, 4.72) at 7:05 p.m. The game will not be televised.