Bryan Woo’s Status Remains Unclear as Mariners Prepare for ALDS
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - While he’s been progressing “as expected,” per manager Dan Wilson, it still appears that Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo isn’t going to be fully ready for the first few games of the ALDS against the Detroit Tigers. While Woo did seem to continue his progress in working back from a pectoral muscle injury, throwing 15 pitches off the main T-Mobile Park mound ahead of today’s scrimmage, the 25-year-old stated that he hopes to be in a better spot in a weeks time. That timeline could have him set to go the day before a potential game five of this ALDS against the Tigers, but nothing is certain quite yet.
“Positive day, still not where I want to be in terms of game speed of everything, but in terms of how everything’s progressed, happy with it considering a week ago, I wasn’t even throwing yet, and then a week from now, hopefully, we’ll be in a better spot.”
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo during his September 8th, 2025 outing against the St. Louis Cardinals at T-Mobile Park. (Photos by Eric Hiller for Circling Seattle Sports)
Woo’s last appearance came in the first game of that critical weekend series sweep at the Houston Astros, being removed from the game after five shutout innings with inflammation in his right pectoral muscle. In the days following the injury, it was largely downplayed and viewed as something that wouldn’t have landed him on the injured list. It seemed as though the plan with having him miss his scheduled Thursday start against the Colorado Rockies in the final homestand of the season was to ensure he was prepared for the ALDS. Now that seems unclear.
13 days since leaving that start down in Houston, Woo went through what he described as his standard start day routine before he got into full uniform and went through a simulated pregame warmup routine in the T-Mobile Park outfield. The next step of his day saw him throw about 25 pitches in the bullpen, where pitching coach Pete Woodworth stood in for part of the session, which was followed by Bryan going to sit in the dugout before retaking the mound where he faced live batters in the form of Leo Rivas and Harry Ford. Those two simply stood in the batters boxed, having been instructed not to swing. Pitching coaches Pete Woodworth and Trent Blank were squatted right behind the mound with an iPad to monitor, while team executives were seen watching from the Diamond Club seats behind home plate. A large chunk of the Mariners coaching and training stuff watched from the top step of the dugout, while players like Mitch Garver and Bryce Miller joined.
“I don’t know about a number, but I just know I’m getting closer. That was a big step. Like I said, still not quite at game speed with everything, but in terms of how everything’s has progressed and getting healthier each day, I’m happy with it.”
After his last pitch of the outing, Woo was in a large huddle that included Dan Wilson, both pitching coaches, and two members of the Seattle training staff where a conversation was held for several minutes before things ended and Woo walked over to speak with the local media. Woo did not give a “percentage” for what his effort level was at, but did seem to go close to maximum, so we’d guess at 90%. The intensity for Woo appeared to ramp up through the day, as the first time all-star, something that seems natural to come as the hope is to continue this progression in the best way possible so that the Mariners can get their ace back during what they hope to be a deep October run.
Throughout this process that started after Woo was lifted from that Houston start, he’s remained optimistic and has continuously felt good with where he’s at through rehab process. Woo made it clear today that he wasn’t going to rush himself back and rather the plan is to take the process in step and build himself back up correctly, not so much dealing with the pectoral anymore. This was another instance on the mound in this recovery, as he stated he’s touched the mound a few times since leaving that Astros start, but Woo stated that this appearance was the “highest intent” he’s gone through so far.
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