Kade was the 307th pick I the 2025 MLB Draft and was signed for $2,500.What Were Expectations?Due to a lengthy injury history, there were absolutely no expectations for Kade upon signing for the Braves. After pitching in 17 games his freshman year at Alabama, the next two years for Kade were tough as he struggled with arm injuries which resulted in him pitching just 2.2 innings over two years, including just one inning in 2025 before being drafted.
While there were no expectations, Kade far exceeded them as he not only made his full season debut but pitched in six games, throwing 13.2 innings. He looked intimidating on the mound with a high 90s fastball with a super tight spinning curveball – flashing the potential his arm has.What Went Right?Kade was healthy!
Nothing went wrong, because Kade was healthy!2026 Outlook
Along with Jaylen Paden, Kade will come in with no expectations but with a pitch mix and potential that make him a pitcher to watch heading into 2026. If Kade can stay healthy, and the Braves can extract the talent that saw him go from a great baseball program like Alabama, to another great program like LSU despite struggling to stay on the field – the Braves have a potential piece for the future.
