Former Cal Poly Pitcher Bryan Woo to Make MLB Debut Saturday
6/2/2023 9:45:00 PM | Baseball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Right-hander Bryan Woo is expected to be the 22nd former Cal Poly baseball player to compete in the Major Leagues on Saturday afternoon.
Woo will be recalled from Double-A Arkansas and start Saturday's game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, taking the place of Marco Gonzales, who is in the process of undergoing tests on his pitching forearm back in Seattle, manager Scott Servais told reporters prior to Friday's series opener.
It's unclear how long Gonzales will be sidelined, but the Mariners will place the left-hander on the 15-day injured list on Saturday. Woo will also need to be added to the 40-man roster.
Woo, who on Thursday was named the Mariners' Minor League Pitcher of the Month for May -- earning the honor for a second straight month -- has been arguably the best arm in the farm system, having compiled a 2.05 ERA in nine starts while holding 172 hitters to a slash line of .174/.256/.232 (.488 OPS) in 44 innings.
Woo has logged 59 strikeouts and has given up just two homers and 12 walks.
Woo, ranked as Seattle's No. 6 prospect by MLB Pipeline, entered 2023 further behind in his development due to a lower workload, as he has just 101 pro innings since being selected in the sixth round by the Mariners in 2021. He had been recovering from Tommy John surgery that he underwent while pitching at Cal Poly when he was drafted, and he didn't make his professional debut until June 6, 2022.
"His stuff has been great, his command has been there, and the most impressive thing is that it hasn't just been one or two starts," Mariners director of player development Justin Toole told MLB.com. "He's continued to carry it from start to start throughout the first few months of the season. I think that's helped his confidence."
Woo possesses an elite four-seam fastball that sits at 95 mph. His release and slot have helped the heater play up, which scouts have suggested is a big driver in his incredibly high whiff rate of 29 percent, according to Synergy, which tracks Minor League data.
Woo has also introduced a promising two-seamer that's generating "big movement," according to one front-office official and it's also sitting 95 mph, MLB.com reports. He's opted more for a bigger shaped slider compared to the gyro look he had last year and has seen decent results.
Woo also throws a changeup, but it's very occasional. The fortification of his secondary pitches will be vital at the MLB level.
Woo will be the sixth former Mustang on a Major League roster over the last two seasons. The others are outfielder Mitch Haniger (Giants), utility player Mark Mathias (Pirates) and pitchers Erich Uelmen (Phillies), Spencer Howard (Rangers) and Justin Bruihl (Dodgers).
Woo pitched last Sunday against Frisco, tossing five innings and allowing one run and two hits with two walks and six strikeouts for his third win of the season. He is 3-2 with a 2.05 ERA and 59 strikeouts and only 12 walks over 44 innings.
At Cal Poly in 2021, Woo was 2-2 with a 6.11 ERA in 10 appearances on the mound, including two starts. His last appearance in a Mustang uniform was on April 11, 2021, at Blair Field in Long Beach and he tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of starter Bryce Warrecker, striking out a career-high eight Dirtbags with no walks and three hits.
Woo left the game with two outs in the ninth inning, suffering from an arm injury that required surgery. Kyle Scott came out of the bullpen and threw one pitch for the final out, a line drive to third base.
Despite the injury, Woo was the 174th overall pick by Seattle in the 2021 MLB Draft and signed for $318,200. He pitched for three Minor League teams in 2022, compiling a 1-4 record and 2.53 ERA in 16 starts in the rookie Arizona Complex League, Lo-A Modesto and Hi-A Everett. Woo struck out 84 batters over 57 innings.
"He's good. He's got good stuff, a really good fastball. He's young, he's learning," Servais said of Woo to The Athletic. "He's got really good composure. That's what stood out for me in spring training. I'm looking forward to seeing him pitch."
The Athletic Scouting Report: Woo, 23, offers a riding fastball at the top of the strike zone (97 mph with an effortless delivery) with a slider/cutter combination that continues to improve. His aptitude, feel to locate his pitches and fastball quality have impressed the organization in a short period of time.
Woo has consistently carried velocity and has intriguing movement characteristics on his pitches as well as easy delivery, the scouting report continues.
In addition to the previous 21 ex-Mustangs who have played in the Major Leagues, former Cal Poly pitcher Dean Treanor was a bullpen coach for the Florida Marlins from 2016-19. He currently coaches the China national baseball team.
MLB.com contributed to this story
Photo of Bryan Woo courtesy of the Seattle Mariners
Woo will be recalled from Double-A Arkansas and start Saturday's game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, taking the place of Marco Gonzales, who is in the process of undergoing tests on his pitching forearm back in Seattle, manager Scott Servais told reporters prior to Friday's series opener.
It's unclear how long Gonzales will be sidelined, but the Mariners will place the left-hander on the 15-day injured list on Saturday. Woo will also need to be added to the 40-man roster.
Woo has logged 59 strikeouts and has given up just two homers and 12 walks.
Woo, ranked as Seattle's No. 6 prospect by MLB Pipeline, entered 2023 further behind in his development due to a lower workload, as he has just 101 pro innings since being selected in the sixth round by the Mariners in 2021. He had been recovering from Tommy John surgery that he underwent while pitching at Cal Poly when he was drafted, and he didn't make his professional debut until June 6, 2022.
Woo possesses an elite four-seam fastball that sits at 95 mph. His release and slot have helped the heater play up, which scouts have suggested is a big driver in his incredibly high whiff rate of 29 percent, according to Synergy, which tracks Minor League data.
Woo has also introduced a promising two-seamer that's generating "big movement," according to one front-office official and it's also sitting 95 mph, MLB.com reports. He's opted more for a bigger shaped slider compared to the gyro look he had last year and has seen decent results.
Woo also throws a changeup, but it's very occasional. The fortification of his secondary pitches will be vital at the MLB level.
Woo will be the sixth former Mustang on a Major League roster over the last two seasons. The others are outfielder Mitch Haniger (Giants), utility player Mark Mathias (Pirates) and pitchers Erich Uelmen (Phillies), Spencer Howard (Rangers) and Justin Bruihl (Dodgers).
Woo pitched last Sunday against Frisco, tossing five innings and allowing one run and two hits with two walks and six strikeouts for his third win of the season. He is 3-2 with a 2.05 ERA and 59 strikeouts and only 12 walks over 44 innings.
At Cal Poly in 2021, Woo was 2-2 with a 6.11 ERA in 10 appearances on the mound, including two starts. His last appearance in a Mustang uniform was on April 11, 2021, at Blair Field in Long Beach and he tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of starter Bryce Warrecker, striking out a career-high eight Dirtbags with no walks and three hits.
Woo left the game with two outs in the ninth inning, suffering from an arm injury that required surgery. Kyle Scott came out of the bullpen and threw one pitch for the final out, a line drive to third base.
Despite the injury, Woo was the 174th overall pick by Seattle in the 2021 MLB Draft and signed for $318,200. He pitched for three Minor League teams in 2022, compiling a 1-4 record and 2.53 ERA in 16 starts in the rookie Arizona Complex League, Lo-A Modesto and Hi-A Everett. Woo struck out 84 batters over 57 innings.
"He's good. He's got good stuff, a really good fastball. He's young, he's learning," Servais said of Woo to The Athletic. "He's got really good composure. That's what stood out for me in spring training. I'm looking forward to seeing him pitch."
The Athletic Scouting Report: Woo, 23, offers a riding fastball at the top of the strike zone (97 mph with an effortless delivery) with a slider/cutter combination that continues to improve. His aptitude, feel to locate his pitches and fastball quality have impressed the organization in a short period of time.
Woo has consistently carried velocity and has intriguing movement characteristics on his pitches as well as easy delivery, the scouting report continues.
In addition to the previous 21 ex-Mustangs who have played in the Major Leagues, former Cal Poly pitcher Dean Treanor was a bullpen coach for the Florida Marlins from 2016-19. He currently coaches the China national baseball team.
MLB.com contributed to this story
Photo of Bryan Woo courtesy of the Seattle Mariners
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