Bryan Woo Shows Promise in Rookie Season with the Mariners

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22/01/2024 22h23

In his debut season with the Seattle Mariners, Bryan Woo made a solid impression on the mound. Despite his rookie status, Woo displayed impressive numbers, posting a 4.21 ERA and 1.21 WHIP across 18 starts.

However, digging deeper into Woo's performance reveals that his rookie campaign was more than just "solid." Among rookies who pitched at least 80 innings, the young hurler boasted a remarkable 12.5% swinging strike rate, tying him for second place alongside Kodai Senga. This statistic highlights Woo's ability to keep hitters off balance and generate misses.

Another impressive aspect of Woo's game is his knack for limiting hard contact. Statcast data indicates that his expected ERA was an impressive 3.45, ranking in the 80th percentile. This performance signifies Woo's ability to consistently induce weak contact and effectively shut down opposing batters.

Analyzing Woo's pitch repertoire adds another layer of intrigue to his potential. Reminiscent of Lance Lynn's approach, nearly 88% of Woo's pitches in his debut season were various types of fastballs, including the four-seam, sinker, and cutter. Among them, his four-seam fastball proved to be a formidable weapon, holding opposing hitters to a mere .207 batting average while generating a notable 16.3% swinging strike rate.

What makes Woo even more exciting as a young pitcher is the potential of his secondary pitches. Though used sparingly, his slider and cutter both demonstrated the ability to limit hard contact and elicit swings and misses.

Looking at the Mariners' history of developing starting pitchers, with success stories like Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert, and George Kirby, it is clear that Woo is in capable hands. With the organization's track record of nurturing talent, it is reasonable to anticipate further growth and improvement from Woo.

As fantasy baseball enthusiasts gear up for the upcoming season, Woo emerges as an intriguing late-round option with immense potential. With the ability to consistently deliver quality starts across 150-plus innings, Woo has the makings of a breakout candidate in the Mariners' rotation.

Only time will tell how Woo's career unfolds, but for now, his promising rookie season offers a glimpse into the exciting future that lies ahead for this talented pitcher in Seattle.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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