On August 31st, 2020, the Mariners made one of their most influential trades of the past 10 years. They traded their offensive powerhouse, Austin Nola, and promising relievers Austin Adams and Dan Altavilla to the San Diego Padres.
Munoz Adjusting To New Mechanics
What they got in return shaped their franchise for at least the next four years.
Ty France, Taylor Trammell, Luis Torrens, and Andres Munoz found themselves the newest Mariners. While France and Torrens both had varying roles in the Mariners organization going forward, Andres Munoz is the sole remainder of the trade.
He was a fan favorite from the moment he touched down in Seattle. Munoz missed the 2020 season due to injury. His debut for Seattle in 2021 saw him pitch 0.2 of a scoreless inning on the season’s final day. In 2022, Munoz cemented himself as the Mariners’ late-inning gem, pitching to a 2.49 in 64 games. A small falter in 2023 saw him finish with a 2.94 ERA in 52 games. In 2024 he had his best year so far, finishing with a 2.12 ERA in 60 games, earning his first All-Star appearance.
Munoz is known for his rapid velocity and ducking slider. His two-pitch combo has seen him rack up 241 strikeouts in 174 innings for Seattle.
You may read that and think: how does he even get better? Here’s how.
Reports have circulated his spring about Munoz adding a new pitch to his arsenal. According to Shannon Drayer, a Mariners Insider for Seattle Sports, Munoz alerted pitching coach Pete Woodworth that he was going to attempt a change-up. According to trackman data, the pitch dropped 10 inches and came in at 91 MPH. Drayer later details how Mariners’ ace Luis Castillo is helping him perfect the pitch, even trying circle grips.
After seeing him throw a couple in his bullpen, another star reliever, Matt Brash, told Drayer, “It was the best pitch I’ve ever seen”. High praise coming from the man with one of the best sliders the game has ever seen.
The pitch is still in its infancy, but the Mariners’ camp is buzzing. Munoz called it “something to try, that’s it”. But after seeing it in the box, star outfielder Julio Rodriguez said “that was the first and last time I will ever face him“, and “that AB was not comfortable at all, Muni is just that guy”.
It remains to be seen if Munoz will develop the pitch enough to use this coming season, but one thing is for sure, his teammates approve, and the fans are excited to see it.
Main Photo Credits: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
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