Bryan Woo

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Bryan Woo

|image =

|team = Seattle Mariners

|number = 22

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2000|1|30}}

|birth_place = Oakland, California, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = June 3

|debutyear = 2023

|debutteam = Seattle Mariners

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = May 18, 2025

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 18–9

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 3.27

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 249

|teams =

Seattle Mariners ({{mlby|2023}}–present)

}}

Bryan Joseph Woo (born January 30, 2000) is a Chinese-American professional baseball pitcher for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.

Amateur career

Woo attended Alameda High School in Alameda, California, where he played on their baseball team.{{Cite web |last=Kroner |first=Steve |date=September 20, 2023 |title=Mariners' Bryan Woo, an Alameda alum, shows promise with 'unique fastball' |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/athletics/article/mariners-bryan-woo-alameda-alum-shows-18369797.php |access-date=December 31, 2023 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en}} As a senior in 2018, he went 8-2 with a 1.25 earned run average (ERA) while hitting .422. He was named the player of the year in the West Alameda County Conference Foothill Division.{{Cite web |last=Sabedra |first=Darren |date=June 22, 2018 |title=All-Bay Area News Group baseball: Meet the team |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/06/22/all-bay-area-news-group-baseball-meet-the-team/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241025065431/https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/06/22/all-bay-area-news-group-baseball-meet-the-team/ |archive-date=2024-10-25 |website=Mercury News}} That summer, he played for the Peninsula Oilers in the Alaska Baseball League.{{Cite web |last=Klecka |first=Joey |date=2018-07-16 |title=Oilers prevail over Chinooks |url=https://www.peninsulaclarion.com/sports/2018-07-18/oilers-prevail-over-chinooks/ |website=Peninsula Clarion |language=en-US}}

After high school, Woo enrolled at Cal Poly to play college baseball for the Cal Poly Mustangs. As a freshman in 2019, he pitched to an 8.75 ERA over {{fraction|23|2|3}} innings. He returned to play for the Oilers that summer.{{Cite web |date=August 4, 2019 |title=Bucs, Pilots to meet in ABL's Top of the World Series |url=https://www.adn.com/sports/alaska-baseball/2019/08/04/bucs-pilots-to-meet-in-abls-top-of-the-world-series/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241025065510/https://www.adn.com/sports/alaska-baseball/2019/08/04/bucs-pilots-to-meet-in-abls-top-of-the-world-series/ |archive-date=2024-10-25 |website=Anchorage Daily News}} He pitched only {{fraction|17|2|3}} innings in 2020 before the college baseball season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, he compiled a 6.11 ERA over 28 innings before undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing the rest of the season.{{Cite web |date=June 28, 2022 |title=Midshipman's Log 6/28/22: Noelvi Marte heats up, Joe Rizzo shines, Bryan Woo returns, Kelenic goes oppo |url=https://www.lookoutlanding.com/2022/6/28/23184310/midshipmans-log-6-28-22-noelvi-marte-heats-up-joe-rizzo-shines-bryan-woo-returns-kelenic-goes-oppo |website=Lookout Landing |publisher=SB Nation}} Woo started only six of the 31 games he pitched in college, finishing his college tenure with a 4–7 record, one save, 6.49 ERA, and 89 strikeouts in {{Fraction|69|1|3}} innings.{{Cite web |title=Bryan Woo - Statistics and Bio |url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/219569/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=The Baseball Cube}}{{Cite web |title=Bryan Woo - 2021 - Baseball |url=https://gopoly.com/sports/baseball/roster/bryan-woo/6840 |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=Cal Poly |language=en}}

Professional career

The Seattle Mariners selected Woo in the sixth round with the 174th overall selection of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.{{Cite web |last=Burdick |first=Eric |date=July 12, 2021 |title=Cal Poly's Bryan Woo drafted by Mariners |url=https://santamariatimes.com/news/local/san-luis-obispo/cal-polys-bryan-woo-drafted-by-mariners/article_5a4140d8-72ad-5124-ac32-dc505839fc04.html |access-date=August 13, 2024 |website=Santa Maria Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=July 12, 2021 |title=Woo Selected by Mariners in Sixth Round of Major League Draft |url=https://gopoly.com/news/2021/7/12/baseball-woo-selected-by-mariners-in-sixth-round-of-major-league-draft.aspx |access-date=August 13, 2024 |website=Cal Poly |language=en}} He signed with the Mariners for $318,200, slightly above the $286,500 slot value of the draft pick.{{Cite web |last=Burdick |first=Eric |date=August 1, 2021 |title=Cal Poly draftees Woo, Alvarez sign professional contracts |url=https://santamariatimes.com/sports/local/cal-poly-draftees-woo-alvarez-sign-professional-contracts/article_4196a4eb-70a3-56b9-b76b-aa0b2a81fad4.html |access-date=August 13, 2024 |website=Santa Maria Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=June 2, 2023 |title=Former Cal Poly Pitcher Bryan Woo to Make MLB Debut Saturday |url=https://gopoly.com/news/2023/6/2/former-cal-poly-pitcher-bryan-woo-to-make-mlb-debut-saturday.aspx |access-date=August 13, 2024 |website=Cal Poly |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2021 MLB Draft Tracker, Round 6 |url=https://www.mlb.com/draft/tracker/2021/all/round/6 |access-date=August 13, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} He made his professional debut in 2022 with the Arizona Complex League Mariners and was promoted to the Low-A Modesto Nuts in mid-June, then the High-A Everett AquaSox at the end of July.{{Cite web |date=August 20, 2022 |title=Woo woos the fans with 11 strikeout performance |url=https://www.milb.com/news/woo-woos-the-fans-with-11-strikeout-performance |website=MiLB.com}} Over 16 starts for the three clubs, Woo posted a 1–4 record with a 4.11 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 57 innings.{{Cite web |title=Bryan Woo Amateur, College, Fall & Minor Leagues Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=woo---000bry#all_standard_roster |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} He played in the Arizona Fall League for the Peoria Javelinas after the season.{{Cite web |last=Callis |first=Jim |author-link=Jim Callis |date=September 16, 2022 |title=The Arizona Fall League rosters are here -- and they're loaded |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/arizona-fall-league-rosters-2022 |website=MLB.com}}

Woo started 2023 with the Double-A Arkansas Travelers.{{Cite web |date=April 4, 2023 |title=Mariners Set Travs 2023 Opening Roster |url=https://www.milb.com/arkansas/news/mariners-set-travs-2023-opening-roster |website=MiLB.com}} In nine starts, Woo had a 3–2 record and 2.05 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 44 innings pitched. On June 2, 2023, the Mariners announced that Woo would be promoted to the major leagues to start the following day against the Texas Rangers.{{Cite news |last=Brock |first=Corey |date=June 2, 2023 |title=Mariners prospect Bryan Woo to make MLB debut Saturday: What to expect from top pitching prospect |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4576419/2023/06/02/mariners-bryan-woo-debut/ |access-date=February 26, 2024 |work=The Athletic}} Starting in place of Marco Gonzales,{{Cite news |last=Divish |first=Ryan |author-link=Ryan Divish |date=June 2, 2023 |title=Mariners to start prospect Bryan Woo for injured Marco Gonzales |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-to-start-prospect-bryan-woo-for-injured-marco-gonzales/ |access-date=February 26, 2024 |work=Seattle Times}} Woo had one of his worst starts of the season, allowing six runs in two innings.{{Cite news |last=Brock |first=Corey |date=June 3, 2023 |title=No soft landing for Mariners' Bryan Woo, who gets ambushed in debut by Rangers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4578097/2023/06/03/mariners-bryan-woo-debut-2/ |access-date=February 26, 2024 |work=The Athletic}}{{Cite news |last=Divish |first=Ryan |author-link=Ryan Divish |date=June 3, 2023 |title=Bryan Woo has rough major league debut as Rangers clobber Mariners |url=https://thebrunswicknews.com/sports/national_sports/bryan-woo-has-rough-major-league-debut-as-rangers-clobber-mariners/article_b5753cd4-c6f2-5bf8-9987-7cfa6e9c4b05.html |access-date=February 26, 2024 |work=Seattle Times}} He won his first MLB game in his fourth start, besting the New York Yankees on June 22. He finished his rookie season with a 4–5 record and 4.21 ERA, striking out 92 batters in {{fraction|87|2|3}} innings.{{Cite web |title=Bryan Woo 2023 Pitching Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=woobr01&t=p&year=2023#pitching_gamelogs::31 |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

Despite several injuries, Woo improved on the mound in 2024. He began the season on the 10-day injured list with elbow inflammation.{{Cite tweet |number=1772405927070626261 |user=RyanDivish |title=With no structural damage, the hope is that Woo can get the inflammation out of the elbow in 7-10 days and resume throwing |author=Ryan Divish |date=March 26, 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Deeds |first=Nick |date=March 25, 2024 |title=Bryan Woo To Begin Season On IL Due To Elbow Inflammation |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/03/bryan-woo-to-begin-season-on-il-due-to-elbow-inflammation.html |access-date=August 13, 2024 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} He made his first start on May 10.{{Cite web |title=Bryan Woo 2024 Pitching Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=woobr01&t=p&year=2024 |access-date=August 13, 2024 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} In his first six starts, he posted a 1.07 ERA, the lowest in Mariners history to begin a season.{{Cite web |last=Xu |first=Kathryn |date=June 11, 2024 |title=Bryan Woo Thinks Walks Are For Dogs And Babies |url=https://defector.com/bryan-woo-thinks-walks-are-for-dogs-and-babies |access-date=August 13, 2024 |website=Defector}}{{Cite tweet |number=1798829857700524463 |user=MarinersPR |title=Lowest ERA over first 6 starts of a season, @Mariners history |author=Seattle Mariners |date=June 6, 2024}} He was scratched from his next start on June 11{{Cite news |last=Hereth |first=Zac |date=June 11, 2024 |title=Mariners scratch RHP Bryan Woo from start against White Sox |url=https://sports.mynorthwest.com/1776904/seattle-mariners-scratch-rhp-bryan-woo-from-start-against-white-sox/ |access-date=June 11, 2024 |work=Seattle Sports}} and made two more starts, earning losses in both outings, before returning to the injured list on June 25 with a hamstring injury.{{Cite web |last=Franco |first=Anthony |date=June 25, 2024 |title=Mariners Place Bryan Woo On Injured List |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/06/mariners-place-bryan-woo-on-injured-list.html |access-date=August 13, 2024 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} He was activated on July 12,{{Cite web |title=Transactions |url=https://www.mlb.com/transactions/2024/07/12 |access-date=August 13, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} resuming his turn in the Mariners rotation. He ended the 2024 season with a 9–3 record and 2.89 ERA, striking out 101 batters in {{fraction|121|1|3}} innings over 21 starts, all improvements from his rookie season.{{Cite web |title=Bryan Woo Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.milb.com/player/bryan-woo-693433 |access-date=August 13, 2024 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}} He was the best MLB starting pitcher at avoiding base on balls, walking 2.6 percent of batters faced.{{Cite web |title=Statcast Percentile Rankings |url=https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/percentile-rankings?type=pitcher&year=2024&team=&sort=11&sortDir=desc |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=Baseball Savant}}

Woo was one of the Mariners' most consistent pitchers to begin the 2025 season, with a 2.84 ERA in his first 8 starts.{{Cite web |last=Kramer |first=Daniel |date=May 14, 2025 |title=Mariners walk off Yankees in 11 innings to back Woo's scoreless gem |url=https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/bryan-woo-j-p-crawford-power-mariners-walk-off-win-vs-yankees |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=MLB.com}}

Personal life

Bryan Woo's parents are Clayton and Hilary Woo.{{Cite web |last=Kramer |first=Daniel |date=July 4, 2023 |title='California cool': Woo returns home, shines in front of family |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/bryan-woo-thrives-in-return-home-to-san-francisco |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} He has a sister, Emily. His father's parents, John and Nancy Woo, attended one of his starts in 2023.{{Cite news |last=McCauley |first=Jane |date=July 4, 2023 |title=Mariners rookie Bryan Woo's grandparents have plenty to celebrate watching grandson pitch |url=https://apnews.com/article/bryan-woo-mariners-rookie-grandparents-f43150ffaec9fe506902a4bfde570bca |access-date=February 26, 2024 |work=Associated Press News}}

As a child, Woo was a fan of the San Francisco Giants, and his favorite player was Brandon Crawford.{{Cite news |last=Warren |first=Sam |date=July 4, 2023 |title=A Giants fan growing up, Alameda's Bryan Woo thrives in Seattle's win at Oracle |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giants/article/giants-fan-growing-up-alameda-s-woo-shines-18183564.php |access-date=February 26, 2024 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}

Woo wore custom cleats with a drawing of professional wrestler Ric Flair, who was known for yelling "Wooo!", during a 2024 start.{{Cite web |last=Kramer |first=Daniel |date=September 12, 2024 |title=Woo flirts with perfecto, and does so with Flair |url=https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/bryan-woo-wears-ric-flair-shoes-during-perfect-game-bid |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=MLB.com}}