Seattle Mariners All-Star right-hander Bryan Woo turned down an invitation to pitch for Team USA in next month’s World Baseball Classic in an effort to be “smart” about his workload, according to MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer.
The Mariners’ big question now is bullpen, which isn’t the worst thing
Woo threw a career-high 186 2/3 innings during his breakout 2025 campaign, which was a significant uptick from the combined 135 1/3 innings he threw between the majors and minors in 2024 and the combined 131 2/3 innings he threw in 2023.
“I would have loved to do it,” Woo said, according to Kramer. “But I just wanted to be smart about mostly the workload jump from ’24 to ’25. You add early games, early preparation, early high-stress innings – my goal is to be throwing 200-plus innings and make all my starts. Like, that’s a big jump to do this year.
“As much as I’d love to be on that team, in that locker room, I’m just trying to be smart about it.”
Woo, who recently turned 26, was Seattle’s best pitcher this season. He finished fifth in the American League in ERA (2.94), third in WHIP (0.93), tied for third in opponents’ batting average (.200), fifth in strikeouts (198) and seventh in innings pitched (186 2/3).
However, Woo was sidelined for nearly a month after exiting a Sept. 19 start with inflammation in his right pectoral muscle. He returned to make two postseason appearances out of the bullpen in Games 5 and 7 of the ALCS.
Woo also underwent Tommy John surgery back in 2021, just months prior to being selected by Seattle in the sixth round of the MLB Draft.
Mariners who are participating in the WBC include catcher Cal Raleigh (United States), outfielder Julio Rodríguez (Dominican Republic), first baseman Josh Naylor (Canada), outfielder Randy Arozarena (Mexico), closer Andrés Muñoz (Mexico), relief pitcher Gabe Speier (United States), relief pitcher Eduard Bazardo (Venezuela), outfielder Dominic Canzone (Italy), utilityman Miles Mastrobuoni (Italy) and infield/outfield prospect Michael Arroyo (Colombia).
“If I had a couple of years where I was consistently healthy and with a consistent workload, and that all that stuff was much more stable, it’d be a different situation, I think,” Woo said. “But yeah, like I said, just trying to be smart about it.”
More Seattle Mariners coverage
• Seattle Mariners’ Cal Raleigh lands cover for a baseball video game
• Brendan Donovan is already fitting right in with Seattle Mariners
• Morosi: Seattle Mariners are the least-flawed AL contender
• M’s Notebook: Castillo could pitch in WBC; two added for spring training
• Drayer: Do Seattle Mariners have better roster now than last October?
