In taking over the AL West, the Seattle Mariners have relied on their pitching. Bryan Woo had been one of Seattle's most trustworthy starters. However, Woo's historic run has hit a speed bump sure to worry Mariners fans.
The right-hander is scheduled to undergo an MRI on his pitching elbow after being scratched from his start on Tuesday, manager Scott Servais told reporters, h/t ESPN. While the Mariners are currently unaware of the severity, Servais is hoping Woo can avoid a long-term stint on the injured list.
“Where does this go with Bryan? We'll just have to wait and see,” Servais said before the game. “Get some tests done, let the doctors look at it. Hoping to stay away from an IL stint, but we'll know more in a day or so. I have no timeline or anything like that.”
“He has gone through things like this before, and come out just fine with it,” Servais continued. “I know he's a little frustrated. I don't want to get ahead of ourselves, just have to wait until we have more information.
While Woo's injury is shrouded in mystery, it's no secret just how much of a blow it would be to lose him from the rotation. Through his first six starts, Woo holds a 3-0 record with a 1.07 ERA and a 24/2 K/BB ratio. His ERA is the lowest of any pitcher in Mariners' history through their first six starts of the season.
Scott Servais knows just how important Bryan Woo is to the team's success. But he isn't going to risk injury by putting him on the mound, especially after Woo underwent Tommy John surgery in 2021. For now, Servais and the Mariners are simply staying optimistic.
Their 39-30 record has afforded Seattle a 6.5 game lead in the AL West. But the Mariners prefer their chances of actually winning the division with Woo still in the rotation.
Bryan Woo's rise to Mariners
Seattle selected Woo in the sixth round of the 2021 MLB Draft. His first year of professional baseball came with some speed bumps as he registered a 1-4 record with 4.11 ERA an 84/22 K/BB ratio. However, Woo made the jump to Double-A in 2023 and truly found his stride.
Over nine starts, Woo put up a 3-2 record with a 2.05 ERA and a 59/12 K/BB ratio. The Mariners were convinced and called the righty up to the majors, skipping over Triple-A entirely.
But then the struggles kicked in again. His first 18 MLB starts saw Woo record a 4-5 record with a 4.21 ERA and a 93/31 K/BB ratio. The strikeouts were never a problem for Woo, Seattle just wanted to see more consistency from their budding star.
After beginning the 2024 season on the injured list, Woo looked almost like an entirely different player. He didn't allow a run over his 11.1 innings in Triple-A; as he was gearing to make his return. And once he hit the majors, Woo set Mariners history.
If this is the version of Bryan Woo the Mariners will get going forward, then Seattle has found a gem. It took some time to work out the kinks, but the right-hander has proven he can be a difference maker in the rotation.
That is of course, when Woo is healthy. The team will wait until further information is known about Woo's injury. Getting scratched certainly sent chills up the Mariners' spines. But they're hopeful Woo can come back and keep setting records in short order.
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