15-05-2025
Mariners closer Andres Munoz will play for Team Mexico in World Baseball Classic
No relief pitcher in baseball has had a better season than Seattle Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz.
The right-handed closer has been excellent for the American League West leaders, sporting a Major League Baseball-high 13 saves. He hasn't allowed a single earned run 19 innings of work and is striking out 12.3 batters per nine innings.
Advertisement
Not only have the Mariners, who entered Wednesday with a 1 1/2 game division lead over the Athletics, benefitted from Muñoz's performance, another team will soon reap the rewards.
Seattle Mariners closer Andres Munoz celebrates after a game against the Miami Marlins in April Brashear-Imagn Images
Muñoz confirmed Wednesday that he will participate with Team Mexico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
A native of Los Mochis, Mexico, Muñoz did not participate in the 2023 edition of the tournament after undergoing ankle surgery at the end of the 2022 season. Mexico ultimately won Pool C, a pool that included eventual champion United States, before falling to Japan in the semifinals.
The 2026 WBC is scheduled to take place from March 5-17 across four cities: Houston, San Juan, Tokyo and Miami. The tournament features four pools of five teams apiece, with the top two teams from each pool advancing to the knockout round.
Related: Brewers Hit with Yet Another Devastating Pitching Injury
Related: Cleveland Guardians Lose Ace to Injured List
