Andrés Muñoz
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2020Antiques10000002.0214204.50
2021Antiques00000000.0000000.00
2022Antiques00000000.0000000.00
2023Antiques5900056263.23717168562.40
2024Antiques3500010145.24217155333.35
2025Antiques60000007.04121201.29
MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Jun 25 2025Munoz (3-0) earned the win Tuesday against the Twins after firing a perfect inning while striking out two. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz was brought in to pitch the eighth with the game tied, and he was flawless. The Mariners would take the lead in the top of the ninth and Matt Brash came in to earn his first save of the year. Tuesday was only Munoz's second time pitching since June 9 and he last recorded a save June 8. He's still been one of the most dominant relievers in all of baseball this season and firmly remains the team's closer despite how Tuesday night played out.
Jun 8 2025Munoz picked up the save Sunday against the Angels, allowing one walk and no hits with two strikeouts over a scoreless ninth inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz blew each of his last two save chances, but he bounced back with a scoreless ninth frame Sunday to grab his first save since May 23. The 26-year-old hadn't allowed an earned run before his pair of blown saves, and his ERA currently sits at 1.35. Munoz's 18 saves rank third in baseball.
Jun 1 2025Munoz (2-0) picked up the win after blowing a save in Sunday's 2-1 victory over the Twins, allowing one run on one hit and one walk with two strikeouts across one inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz entered the game with a 1-0 advantage and struck out the first batter he faced. He walked Kody Clemens and allowed a single to Ty France immediately thereafter before advancing both runners on a wild pitch to set up Harrison Bader's game-tying sacrifice fly. Thankfully for Munoz, Randy Arozarena walked it off for the Mariners in the bottom of the ninth, allowing the closer to escape with a victory. Munoz has blown back-to-back save chances, spoiling his previously spotless 0.00 ERA and increasing it to 1.40.
May 30 2025Munoz allowed three runs on four hits and struck out two without walking a batter over one inning, taking a blown save in Friday's 12-6 extra-inning loss to the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz fell apart in the ninth inning, allowing a two-run home run to Willi Castro and the game-tying RBI single to Trevor Laranch. This was just the third outing where Munoz has been scored on, and it's the first time all year he's surrendered earned runs. The 26-year-old is still at a sterling 1.09 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 31:8 K:BB while converting 17 of 20 save chances over 24.2 innings.
May 23 2025Munoz picked up the save in Friday's 5-3 win over Houston after throwing a clean ninth inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz's stellar campaign continues -- he's now worked 22.2 innings and has yet to give up an earned run. The hard-throwing right-hander has successfully converted 17 of his 19 save chances in 2025, posting a 28:8 K:BB over 23 outings. Munoz leads the major leagues in saves to this point.
May 21 2025Munoz earned the save in Wednesday's 6-5 win over the White Sox, allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz allowed a leadoff single to Andrew Vaughn before setting down the next three White Sox in order, locking down his league-leading 16th save this season. Munoz has now gone 21.2 innings without allowing an earned run to open the year, posting a 0.74 WHIP and 28:8 K:BB.
May 19 2025Munoz struck out the only batter he faced and earned a save against the White Sox on Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz entered a 5-1 game with bases loaded and quickly shut things down by striking out Michael Taylor on four pitches. Munoz has yet to allow an earned run through 20.2 innings and has converted 15 of his 17 save opportunities. He improved his K:BB to 28:8 and has struck out at least one batter in 20 of his 21 appearances this season.
May 17 2025Munoz struck out one and didn't allow a hit or a walk over 1.1 scoreless innings to earn the save in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz entered with a 2-1 lead and two outs in the eighth inning. Xander Bogaerts stole a base right after Munoz entered, but he prevented a scoring play before pitching a perfect ninth. This was Munoz's first action since his blown save Tuesday versus the Yankees, which was the result of an error. Munoz's has yet to be charged with an earned run while posting a 0.74 WHIP and 27:8 K:BB over 20.1 innings while earning 14 saves in 16 chances.
May 13 2025Munoz blew the save Tuesday against the Yankees after allowing one unearned run in the ninth inning. He struck out one. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was the second blown save of the year by Munoz, whose run allowed went unearned due to a throwing error by Dylan Moore as he tried to throw a runner out at home plate. As a result, Munoz is still without an earned run on his ledger in 2025, and he also sports a 0.79 WHIP and 26:8 K:BB over 19 innings. Despite Tuesday's blown save, Munoz still leads the American League with 13 saves this season as Seattle's clear-cut closer.
May 7 2025Munoz earned the save in Wednesday's 6-5 win over the A's, allowing one hit while striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After taking his first blown save of the year in the 10th inning of his last appearance, Munoz responded with a strong effort Wednesday to close out a one-run victory, picking up his 13th save this season, good for second-most in the majors. The 26-year-old Munoz has yet to allow an earned run through his first 18 innings, posting a pristine 0.83 WHIP with 25:8 K:BB.
May 5 2025Munoz allowed an unearned run on a hit and walk while striking out three over one inning to take a blown save in Monday's 7-6 extra-innings loss to the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz's scoreless run to start the season ended on the first pitch of this appearance, as he allowed an RBI single by Jacob Wilson to knock in game-tying run to begin the 10th inning. Munoz then loaded the bases before striking out Lawrence Butler, Brent Rooker and Tyler Soderstrom in order to send the game to the 11th, where the Mariners ultimately lost on another Wilson hit. Since it was a ghost runner that scored, Munoz still has a sparkling 0.00 ERA to go with a 0.82 WHIP and 23:8 K:BB across 17 innings this season. However, he's now 12-for-13 in save chances, though this is shaping up to be the year he enters elite status among major-league closers.
May 3 2025Munoz earned a save against the Rangers on Saturday, issuing one walk and striking out one batter over one scoreless inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz entered in the ninth frame with the task of protecting a one-run lead and came through despite issuing a one-out walk. The right-hander has yet to allow a run through 16 innings and 16 appearances on the campaign, and he's a perfect 12-for-12 in save opportunities. Those 12 saves lead the majors and have helped make Munoz arguably fantasy's most valuable closer so far this season.
Apr 30 2025Munoz struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his 11th save of the season in a 5-3 win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The right-hander remains tied with the Padres' Robert Suarez atop the major-league leaderboard in saves. Munoz has reeled off 15 straight scoreless appearances to begin the season, posting a 19:6 K:BB through 15 innings, and he's already halfway to matching the career-high 22 saves he collected in 2024.
Apr 16 2025Munoz earned the save Wednesday against the Reds after tossing a scoreless ninth inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz was called in for the ninth frame to protect a two-run lead, and he needed 19 pitches (of which 13 were strikes) to close things out. It was Munoz's seventh save of the season, which leads the American League and is second-most in the majors behind Robert Suarez (eight). Munoz has converted on all of his save opportunities this season and has not yielded a run in nine innings of working, striking out 12 batters over that span.
Apr 14 2025Munoz earned the save Sunday against the Rangers after giving up one hit in a scoreless ninth inning. He struck out two. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz gave up a one-out base hit to Josh Smith and followed that up with back-to-back punch outs to seal the deal. Munoz now sits by himself in second with six saves on the year and has yet to allow a run in eight innings while posting a 12:4 K:BB.
Apr 11 2025Munoz picked up the save Friday against the Rangers after giving up one hit in a scoreless ninth inning. He struck out one. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Jonah Heim singled to bring the potential tying run to the plate, but Munoz was able to get Dustin Harris to strike out and Marcus Semien to ground into a double play to preserve the victory for the Mariners. The hard-throwing right-hander has been a lights-out closer to begin the campaign, having not yielded a run while converting each of his first five save chances to go with 10 punchouts over seven innings. However, Munoz does have a 1.14 WHIP, so his control is something for fantasy managers to monitor.
Apr 7 2025Munoz picked up the save after throwing a clean ninth inning in Monday's 4-3 win over Houston. He struck out one. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Mariners retook the lead via a Jorge Polanco two-run single in the eighth inning, setting up Munoz to work the ninth inning and make relatively quick work of the bottom of Houston's lineup on just 13 pitches (nine strikes). The hard-throwing right-hander has allowed four walks through five innings to open the campaign, but he's fanned eight and converted each of his first four save chances while producing a 0.00 ERA thus far.
Apr 2 2025Munoz earned the save in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Tigers, allowing two walks and one hit while striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz got off to a shaky start with two straight walks before recovering with a punchout. A Dillon Dingler single loaded the bases, but Munoz managed to close things out with a fielder's choice to home plate before striking out Zach McKinstry. Wednesday was a far more challenging effort than his first two outings, but Munoz has managed to earn three saves on as many opportunities without giving up a run. With the Mariners scheduled for an off-day Thursday, he should be available for the start of the three-game weekend road series against the Giants.
Mar 30 2025Munoz earned the save in Sunday's 2-1 win over the A's, allowing one hit while striking out a pair in a scoreless ninth inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz now has two saves through the Mariners' first four games this season, posting three strikeouts over two innings. The 26-year-old Munoz was excellent in 2024, converting 22 of 27 save opportunities while posting a 2.12 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 77 strikeouts across 59.1 innings. Munoz should be one of the top closers again in 2025.
Mar 5 2025Munoz hurled a scoreless inning in Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Royals, giving up one hit while striking out two. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz appeared to be sharper Wednesday, considering he surrendered one run on two hits during his first appearance earlier this spring. The hard-throwing right-hander was a first-time All-Star in 2024 while operating as Seattle's primary closer, and the Mariners solidified his status this past offseason by letting Yimi Garcia go and not making any noteworthy additions to the bullpen. Munoz has dominant stuff, as evidenced by his 33.2 percent strikeout rate a year ago, but he may need to improve a bit on his 11.2 percent walk rate to avoid having his job security threatened atop the bullpen pecking order.
Sep 22 2024Munoz (3-7) allowed a run on two hits and struck out one over two-thirds of an inning, taking the loss Sunday versus the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It wasn't a save situation, but Munoz wasn't able to keep the game tied at 5-5 in the ninth inning, instead taking a walk-off loss. He entered Sunday on a five-inning scoreless streak before this hiccup. Munoz has maintained a 2.16 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 76:26 K:BB over 58.1 innings while adding 22 saves in 27 chances and six holds this season.
Sep 19 2024Munoz struck out the side in the ninth to earn the save Thursday against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz needed 14 pitches to strike out the side in the ninth in collecting his 22nd save. He's allowed just one total baserunner over his last five appearances, collecting one win, three saves and seven strikeouts over five innings during that stretch.
Sep 15 2024Munoz (3-6) got the win against the Rangers on Saturday, firing a perfect ninth inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz was called on to protect a 4-4 tie in the ninth inning and delivered by retiring Josh Jung, Ezequiel Duran and Carson Kelly on 11 pitches. The right-hander was then afforded his first victory since way back on May 5 via Randy Arozarena's game-winning single in the home half of the frame, putting a fitting bow on Munoz's third straight scoreless relief appearance. The Mariners' closer is enjoying a strong fantasy season overall, recording a career-high 21 saves to go along with six holds, a 2.10 ERA, an 0.95 WHIP and an 11.5 K/9 across 55.2 innings.
Sep 13 2024Munoz struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Friday's 5-4 win over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz needed just eight pitches (five strikes) to retire the top of the Rangers' lineup after the Mariners pulled ahead in the eighth inning. This was just his third appearance in September after he battled a bout of elbow soreness early in the month. Munoz is up to 21 saves in 26 chances to go with six holds, a 2.14 ERA, a 0.97 WHIP and a 71:25 K:BB through 54.2 innings this year.
Sep 12 2024Munoz picked up the save over the Padres on Wednesday, striking out two over a perfect ninth inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz took the mound in the top of the ninth with a three-run lead and managed to retire the side in order on 14 pitches to secure his 20th save of the campaign. It was a solid outing for the reliever after having allowed a home run in each of his last two appearances, while the save was his first since Aug. 25 against the Giants. Munoz has now posted two or more strikeouts in five of his last six appearances and hasn't issued a free pass in three of his last four.
Sep 6 2024Munoz (elbow) allowed two earned runs on a hit and a walk over one inning of relief in a win over the Athletics on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz was making his first appearance since Saturday after battling some elbow soreness, and he looked somewhat less than 100 percent while surrendering a two-run home run to Brent Rooker that cut the Mariners' four-run lead in half in the ninth inning. While the right-hander was subsequently able to strike out JJ Bleday to finish the game, it remains to be seen whether the rocky outing was more attributable to rust or lingering issues with the elbow.
Sep 3 2024Munoz said after Tuesday's game that he is dealing with a bit of soreness in his elbow, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz noted that the issue wasn't serious enough to make him unavailable in a save situation Tuesday, but it may still be something worth keeping an eye on. The 25-year-old has bounced back nicely from his three-run outing against the Dodgers on Aug. 20, allowing one earned run and striking out eight batters across his last 3.2 innings.
Aug 25 2024Munoz picked up the save Sunday, walking two and striking out two during a scoreless ninth inning against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz finished off the Giants for his 19th save of the season though it was his first save in four weeks. It was not a perfect outing for Munoz who struggled with his command, tossing just 10 of 21 pitches for strikes while walking two. However, he also struck out two, including Mark Canha with a runner on third to end the game. Munoz has allowed four earned runs and nine total baserunners over his last four appearances, but still maintains a dominant 1.80 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with 63 strikeouts over 50 innings this season.
Aug 21 2024Munoz (2-5) was charged with a blown save and took the loss Tuesday against the Dodgers, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out a batter over 1.1 innings. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz was called upon for a high-leverage situation to face the heart of the Dodgers' order in the seventh with a runner on second and one out and the Mariners clinging to a one-run lead. He wound up giving up a double to Mookie Betts to tie the game before completing the frame. Munoz came back out in the eighth and put some traffic on the bases before eventually giving up a three-run homer to Jason Heyward. Munoz has now blown consecutive saves and has allowed a home run in both appearances. Before this latest slide, Munoz was working on a streak of 14 consecutive scoreless appearances, allowing just one hit over that span. He's still in the midst of an excellent season, posting a 1.88 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 58:22 K:BB in 48 innings while compiling 18 saves and six holds.
Aug 15 2024Munoz (2-4) took the loss Thursday against Detroit, allowing one run on one hit while picking up a strikeout in one-third of an inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz entered in the eighth inning, tasked with protecting a 1-0 lead with two outs and a runner on third. He'd proceed to give up a two-run homer to Javier Baez, sticking him with a blown save and the eventual loss. Munoz hadn't allowed a run in 14.1 innings prior to Thursday-- he'd given up just one hit in that span. His ERA now sits at 1.35 with a 0.92 WHIP and 57:20 K:BB across 46.2 innings while converting 18 of 22 save chances this year.
Jul 28 2024Munoz walked one batter in a scoreless inning and picked up a save against the White Sox on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz struggled with his command a bit after Saturday's four-out save; he threw 11 of 20 pitches for strikes but still finished off the 6-3 win. He extended his scoreless streak to 10.1 innings and is now 18 for 21 in save chances this season. Munoz lowered his ERA to 1.28 alongside a 51:19 K:BB through 42.1 frames.
Jul 27 2024Munoz struck out two and did not allow a hit, walk or run over 1.1 innings to earn the save in Saturday's 6-3 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz allowed a runner he inherited from Gregory Santos to score on a wild pitch in the eighth inning. In the ninth, Munoz was sharp to finish off his 17th save of the campaign. This was the second outing in a row in which he allowed an inherited runner to score, but he has not been charged with a run over his last 9.1 innings despite a modest 8:5 K:BB in that span. For the season, Munoz has a 1.31 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 51:18 K:BB through 41.1 innings.
Jul 22 2024Munoz did not permit a baserunner but allowed an inherited runner to score over two-thirds of an inning, taking a blown save in Monday's 3-1 loss to the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ryne Stanek walked two of the three batters he faced in the eighth inning, and Munoz gave up a sacrifice fly to Taylor Ward, which tied the game at 1-1. It was Munoz's third blown save of the year, though his scoreless streak remains intact at eight inning since he was not charged with the run. The closer has a 1.35 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 49:18 K:BB over 40 innings while adding 16 saves and six holds.
Jul 10 2024Munoz earned a save against the Padres on Wednesday, walking two and striking out two over 1.1 scoreless innings. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz struck out Jurickson Profar with two outs in the eighth inning and worked around two walks in the ninth to secure his 15th save of the season. The righty has yielded just one earned run over his past 10 appearances and is 15-for-17 in save chances this season. He owns a 1.45 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 45:16 K:BB over 37.1 innings.
Jul 5 2024Munoz pitched a perfect inning to earn the save in Friday's 2-1 win over the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This was Munoz's first save since June 18 -- he blew a save June 24, which was his only opportunity over his last five appearances. The right-hander has seen the most high-leverage spots rather than being strictly confined to the ninth inning. He faced the 9-1-2 hitters Friday to earn his 14th save in 16 chances this year. Munoz has added a 1.54 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 43:14 K:BB across 35 innings while adding six holds. With Munoz's usage being more flexible, Ryne Stanek has forced his way into the closer conversation, though the Mariners' recent poor play hasn't led to many save chances for either reliever.
Jun 24 2024Munoz was charged with a blown save Monday against Tampa Bay, allowing one hit and one walk with one strikeout in one-third of an inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz entered the game in the bottom of the eighth inning with two outs and runners on second and third. He walked Jose Caballero before allowing a two-run single to Yandy Diaz, giving the Rays a 4-3 lead. While Munoz blew the save, it is encouraging that he was called upon for the high-leverage situation over fellow closer Ryne Stanek, who pitched a scoreless seventh inning. The Mariners closer situation should still be considered a committee moving forward, with Munoz offering the most upside. Despite blowing the save, the 25-year-old has been dominant this season, compiling a 1.41 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP and a 43:11 K:BB over 32 innings, converting 13-of-15 save opportunities with six holds.
Jun 18 2024Munoz earned the save Tuesday in an 8-5 win over Cleveland, allowing one hit while striking out one over 1.2 innings. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Mariners turned to Munoz after Trent Thornton loaded the bases in the eighth. Munoz would proceed to coax a pair of groundouts to get out of the inning before turning in a scoreless ninth, earning his 13th save of the campaign and his third of four or more outs. The 25-year-old Munoz lowered his ERA to a pristine 1.47 this season with a 0.95 WHIP and 42:10 K:BB across 30.2 innings.
Jun 14 2024Munoz walked one and struck out three in a scoreless and hitless eighth inning to earn a hold in Friday's 3-2 win over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz has been dealing with a back issue for most of June, but he's still seen high-leverage work when available. In fact, Munoz was deployed in the eighth inning Friday to face the top of the Rangers' lineup, while Ryne Stanek got the call in the ninth and earned the save. Munoz has picked up three holds and a loss over his last four outings, but it seems this is less about easing the right-hander back from injury and more about a matchups-based approach to the late innings for now. Should Seattle switch to a closer committee, it appears Stanek is set to pick up a larger share of the saves. Munoz remains a strong option as well -- he has a 1.55 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 41:10 K:BB with 12 saves and six holds through 29 innings this season.
Jun 12 2024Munoz had an MRI and bone scan on his back come back clean, but he received an injection Tuesday to address the lingering soreness, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The right-hander last pitched Sunday in Kansas City and has made just two appearances in June while battling through the back issue. Munoz hasn't officially been declared unavailable, but the Mariners may try to stay away from him for another day or two as he recovers.
Jun 9 2024Munoz (back) recorded one strikeout in a perfect eighth inning Sunday against the Royals. He said he "felt weird" out on the mound and was happy with the outing even though he didn't feel like he had his best stuff or command, per Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He was the first reliever out of the bullpen after George Kirby tossed seven innings of one-run ball. Mike Baumann came on in the ninth inning and gave up two earned runs to blow the save (and eventually pick up the win). It sounds like Munoz will be considered available going forward, although his back might not feel fully healthy.
Jun 8 2024Munoz (back) threw a light bullpen session before Friday's game against the Royals, per Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times, but the reliever did not appear in the contest. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Divish had noted there was a possibility Munoz would be available for the first time since exiting Tuesday's game against the Athletics, but it was Ryne Stanek who got the ninth-inning call and ultimately failed to protect a 9-7 lead. With Stanek having appeared in three of the last four games and having thrown 39 pitches in the last two nights, Munoz would certainly be in line for any high-leverage work Saturday if he's healthy enough to handle it.
Jun 6 2024Munoz (back) played catch prior to Thursday's game in Oakland, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Drayer adds that Munoz was seen giving fist bumps to others afterward, which would seem to indicate things went well. Munoz had to be removed from an appearance Thursday versus the Athletics, but there's optimism he can avoid the injured list and could be available to pitch this weekend in Kansas City, per Daniel Kramer of MLB.com.
Jun 4 2024Munoz has been dealing with a lower-back injury over the past few weeks and aggravated it during his collision with Max Schuemann on Tuesday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The initial concern following Munoz's removal from Tuesday's game was with his right ankle/leg, which seemed to get pinned underneath Schuemann, but the issue now appears to be with the closer's lingering back problems. Manager Scott Servais said Munoz will head in for an MRI on Wednesday to determine the severity of his latest flareup, at which point the Mariners will likely make a decision on whether or not the 25-year-old righty will require a trip to the IL. Should Munoz have to miss time, Ryne Stanek would be the most likely candidate for saves.
May 31 2024Munoz allowed a hit and struck out two in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Friday's 5-4 win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz's scoreless streak is up to six innings, and he allowed just one run over 13.1 innings in May while converting all seven of his save chances during the month. The closer is 12-for-13 in save chances this year. He's been hard to hit with a 1.42 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 35:8 K:BB over 25.1 innings as the Mariners' top ninth-inning option. Munoz needs one more save to match his career high from last year.
May 27 2024Munoz earned a save against the Astros on Monday, striking out two batters in a perfect inning of work. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz had just a one-run lead to work with when he came into the game in the ninth inning, but he made things look easy with a perfect frame. The right-hander now was nine straight successful save conversions since blowing his lone save of the season against Colorado on April 21. Munoz has given up just one earned run over his past 14 appearances and has recorded an impressive 21:2 K:BB across 16 innings during that span.
May 21 2024Munoz picked up the save Tuesday against the Yankees, allowing one hit and one walk over a scoreless inning. He struck out one. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz has converted on eight straight save chances and has allowed just one run in his last 12 outings. He's one of 10 closers to reach double figures in saves and boasts a 1.69 ERA through 21.1 innings overall.
May 20 2024Munoz allowed a hit in a scoreless inning against the Yankees on Monday. He struck out two and earned a save. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz worked around a one-out single by Juan Soto to finish off the 5-4 victory. Since blowing a save in Colorado on April 21, Munoz has converted his last seven chances, allowing just one run over 13 innings during that span. His ERA is down to 1.77 with a 28:7 K:BB through 20.1 frames.
May 18 2024Munoz allowed a run but hung on to notch his eighth save of the season in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Gunnar Henderson made things interesting with a two-out, solo home run, but Munoz quickly bounced back in setting down Adley Rutschman swinging to end it. Henderson's long ball represents the only run Munoz has allowed over his last 10 appearances, and he boasts a 15:1 K:BB over 12 innings during that span.
May 16 2024Munoz gave up a hit and struck out three over 1.2 scoreless innings Wednesday to record his seventh save of the season in a 4-2 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Austin Voth ran into trouble in the eighth inning, so Munoz got the call with runners on second and third and only one out to protect a 3-1 lead. The Mariners' closer did allow an inherited runner to score, but Seattle got the run right back in the bottom of the frame and Munoz dominated the ninth. It's the fourth time this season he's worked more than one inning to notch a save, and with Matt Brash (elbow) done for the year and Gregory Santos (lat) potentially not back until the All-Star break, Munoz may have to continue putting in extra work until Seattle settles on a new setup crew.
May 13 2024Munoz earned a save against the Royals on Monday, striking out three batters in 1.1 perfect innings. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz was summoned from the bullpen in the top of the eighth inning with two outs, Seattle up by two runs and the tying run at the plate. He struck out Nelson Velazquez to end the threat, then got some stress reduction when the Mariners' offense put up two runs in the bottom of the frame. From there, Munoz closed things out without incident, fanning two of the three batters he squared off against in the ninth frame. The save was his sixth of the season and first since April 30, though no other Seattle pitcher recorded a save in the meantime. Munoz has looked great since his lone blown save of the campaign April 21, tossing 9.1 scoreless frames during which he's posted a 10:1 K:BB across eight appearances.
May 6 2024Munoz (2-2) got the win against the Astros on Sunday, firing 1.1 perfect innings during which he recorded a strikeout. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz continued what is turning into his best stretch of pitching this season, locating eight of his 11 pitches for strikes on his way to his ninth scoreless effort in the last 10 appearances, including his fifth straight. The right-hander has whittled his ERA and WHIP to 2.03 and 1.13, respectively, and he'd also recorded saves in three consecutive appearances before Sunday's victory.
May 1 2024Munoz completed a five-out save in Tuesday's 3-2 win over Atlanta, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out three in the process. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz was forced into the game a bit earlier than expected after Ryne Stanek allowed three base hits to turn things into a 3-1 ballgame. Munoz did allow an inherited runner to score on a throwing error but was dominant otherwise and retired the side in order in the ninth with two strikeouts. Tuesday was the fourth time this season Munoz has pitched more than three outs and it was the third consecutive save he's converted, with all three coming over the last five days. The 25-year-old now owns a 2.25 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 16:7 K:BB in 12 innings thus far.
Apr 28 2024Munoz earned the save over the Diamondbacks on Saturday, pitching a perfect ninth inning while striking out one. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz entered the game with a two-run lead in the ninth and went 1-2-3 through the heart of Arizona's lineup to secure his fourth save of the season. The right-handed reliever has now converted his last two save attempts after being tagged with the loss in extras against the Rockies a week ago and has not allowed a baserunner over that brief stretch.
Apr 25 2024Munoz pitched a perfect ninth inning against the Rangers to earn a save. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz picked up his first save since April 6, making quick work of Wyatt Langford, Travis Jankowski and Jonah Heim to close out the Mariners' win. He's now 3-for-4 in save chances this season and Thursday's outing could give him more leeway with Ryne Stanek breathing down his back for save chances.
Apr 21 2024Munoz (1-2) suffered a blown save and picked up the loss after he failed to record an out while allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits in Seattle's 2-1 extra-inning defeat to the Rockies in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz was called upon to protect a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 10th inning, surrendering three consecutives singles and ultimately being tagged with the loss. The right-hander suffered his first blown save of the year while the runs given up were his first since April 5, ending a streak of four straight scoreless appearances. Munoz now owns a 3.68 ERA and 1.64 WHIP with 11 strikeouts over 7.1 innings while going 2-for-3 in save opportunities in eight appearances this season.
Apr 17 2024Munoz recorded his third hold in a win over the Reds on Tuesday, firing 1.1 scoreless innings during which he allowed a hit and a walk while recording three strikeouts. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz relieved Logan Gilbert with two outs in the seventh inning and a man on, and after issuing a walk to Elly De La Cruz, he surrendered a hit to Nick Martini but was bailed out when De La Cruz was thrown out at third base on a stellar outfield assist by Julio Rodriguez. Munoz was exponentially more effective in the eighth inning while recording swinging strikeouts on all three batters he faced to preserve Seattle's 3-1 lead, and he then saw Ryne Stanek entrusted with the ninth inning until he worked himself into trouble and was bailed out by Tayler Saucedo. The Mariners' closer role therefore appears to be somewhat in flux, but Munoz does have four straight scoreless appearances during which he's picked up his most recent save, a win and back-to-back holds.
Apr 11 2024Munoz (1-1) picked up the win in an extra-inning victory over the Blue Jays on Wednesday, firing 1.1 scoreless innings during which he allowed a hit, hit a batter and issued a walk. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz got the late-eighth-inning call after Logan Gilbert, who'd been masterful for most of seven-plus innings, worked into trouble by allowing a single and a walk with two outs. Munoz impressively escaped the jam he inherited by striking out Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and then emerged from a 24-pitch ninth frame unscathed despite some trouble. Having preserved the 1-1 tie, Munoz became the pitcher of record courtesy of the Mariners' five-run rally in the 10th, giving him his first win in what was his second inning-plus appearance of the new season. Munoz has allowed a pair of earned runs through five appearances and displayed occasional control issues, making it possible Ryne Stanek, who has plenty of high-leverage experience and sealed Wednesday's victory by setting the Blue Jays down in the 10th inning, could steal occasional save opportunities.
Apr 7 2024Munoz won't be available to pitch Sunday against the Brewers after throwing in the first two games of the series, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The right-hander threw 39 pitches across the first two games of the series and unsurprisingly won't be an option for the finale in Milwaukee. Ryne Stanek is expected to be the fill-in closer for Munoz, who will reclaim his duties Monday at Toronto.
Apr 6 2024Munoz struck out one and retired the side in order during the ninth inning of Saturday's win over the Brewers to earn his second save of the season. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz struggled during the series opener Friday as he walked four batters and took the loss, but he returned to the mound Saturday and was back in strong form. The right-hander has now thrown 39 pitches across the first two games of the series, so it's possible manager Scott Servais looks elsewhere should a save chance arise Sunday.
Apr 5 2024Munoz (0-1) allowed a run on four walks and took a loss against the Brewers on Friday. He struck out one batter. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz simply could not find the strike zone Friday. He tossed 17 of 26 pitches for balls and walked four batters, including William Contreras with the bases loaded to end the game. It was his second straight appearance allowing a run but he'd produced a perfect 4:0 K:BB before Friday's meltdown. Overall, this shouldn't have much of an impact on his status as Seattle's closer and should be considered a one-off incident for now.
Apr 2 2024Munoz was credited with his first hold in a win over the Guardians on Monday, allowing an earned run on a solo home run while recording a strikeout in the eighth inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz got the eighth-inning call with the Mariners holding a 5-3 lead and faltered when he allowed a solo home run to Josh Naylor after getting Jose Ramirez to fly out to open the frame. The hard-throwing right-hander atoned for the hiccup by getting out of the inning without further damage, but manager Scott Servais entrusted Ryne Stanek with the save opportunity in the ninth inning. Despite the swap in roles Monday, Munoz remains Seattle's preferred closer option moving forward.
Mar 29 2024Munoz earned the save in Friday's win over the Red Sox, striking out three over 1.1 innings. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz came on in relief of Ryne Stanek with two outs in the eighth, coaxing a groundout off the bat of Trevor Story to strand the tying run on third. Munoz would proceed to strike out the side in the ninth, closing out a 1-0 win for his first save of the year. The 25-year-old right-hander should have a firm grasp on the ninth-inning job in Seattle after tallying 13 saves last season while posting a 2.94 ERA with a 1.27 WHIP and 67:22 K:BB.
Mar 4 2024Munoz flashed a triple-digit fastball during his one Cactus League appearance thus far, Brent Stecker of 710 ESPN Seattle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz allowed a hit and recorded two strikeouts over one inning against the White Sox on Thursday, offsetting the impressive heater with a sharp slider, per Stecker. The flame-throwing right-hander, who was 13-for-16 in save opportunities last season and is likely to have ninth-inning work all to himself early in the season with Matt Brash (elbow) potentially sidelined, needed only eight pitches to get through his one frame against Chicago.
Sep 28 2023Munoz (4-7) didn't allow a baserunner in one-third of an inning and earned the win Thursday over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz got the last out of the ninth inning, and the Mariners rallied for a walk-off victory. He hadn't earned a save or a result in two weeks, allowing one run across four innings over his last four appearances. Munoz has a 2.81 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 65:21 K:BB through 48 innings this year while adding 13 saves and 14 holds in 51 appearances.
Sep 13 2023Munoz picked up the save in Wednesday's 3-2 victory over the Angels. He allowed one hit while striking out two in a scoreless inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz struck out a pair of Angels, reaching 101.9 MPH on his fastball, before Brett Phillips was caught stealing to end the game. The 24-year-old Munoz has delivered three consecutive scoreless appearances after allowing a run in each of his previous three outings. He improves to 13-for-16 in save opportunities this season with a 2.89 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 62:21 K:BB across 43.2 innings.
Sep 11 2023Munoz (hip) allowed two hits and hit a batter while striking out one over a scoreless inning in Monday's 8-5 extra-innings loss to the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz battled hip tightness over the weekend, but he was able to return to action without a trip to the injured list. He was a little wild but kept the score tied at 3-3 in the ninth inning, though the rest of the Mariners' bullpen faltered in the 10th and 11th frames. Munoz is at a 2.95 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 60:21 K:BB through 42.2 innings while racking up 12 saves and 13 holds this season.
Sep 10 2023Munoz said he's been battling some minor left hip tightness but threw without issue ahead of Sunday's game at Tampa Bay, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz will probably be unavailable for the Mariners' series finale against the Rays on Sunday at Tropicana Field, but there doesn't seem to be much concern that this is going to become a long-term issue. Matt Brash is the best bet for fill-in closer duties, though Munoz could be right back in action Monday versus the Angels.
Sep 7 2023Munoz picked up the save Thursday against Tampa Bay. He hit a batter and issued a walk while striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 24-year-old closer worked around a hit-by-pitch and a walk to shut the door on Seattle's 1-0 victory, getting back on track after allowing a run in each of his previous three appearances. Munoz has now converted 10 of his first 12 save chances since taking over as the primary closer at the trade deadline. The hard-throwing righty owns a 3.02 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and an impressive 12.7 K/9 across 41.2 innings on the campaign.
Sep 6 2023Munoz (3-7) took the loss against the Reds on Tuesday, allowing an earned run on two hits without retiring a batter in the ninth inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Called on to preserve a 6-6 tie, Munoz got his frame off on the wrong foot when Elly De La Cruz legged out an infield single and subsequently swiped second base. That put the rookie phenom in position to race home on Christian Encarnacion-Strand's single to right, handing Munoz his seventh loss in quick fashion. The right-hander has had some bumps in the road since taking over the primary closer role following the trade of Paul Sewald to the Diamondbacks at the deadline, blowing two of his 11 save opportunities, taking three losses and posting a bloated 1.60 WHIP across the 15 innings he's logged since Aug. 2.
Sep 2 2023Munoz (3-6) took the loss Friday as the Mariners were downed 2-1 by the Mets, giving up a run on two hits and a walk in the eighth inning. He struck out one. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Called upon to preserve a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the eighth, Munoz instead tossed only 15 of 27 pitches for strikes, uncorked two wild pitches and gave up two stolen bases, somehow emerging with only one run on his ledger. The right-hander has been more lucky than good since taking over as Seattle's primary closer -- in 15 innings since the beginning of August, he has a 2.40 ERA despite a 1.47 WHIP, converting nine of his 11 save chances.
Aug 31 2023Munoz struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his 11th save of the season in a 5-4 win over the A's. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The right-hander needed 14 pitches (nine strikes) to knife through the bottom of the Oakland lineup, topping out at 99.6 mph with his fastball. Munoz's first month as Seattle's main closer wraps up with a 1.93 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 20:7 K:BB through 14 innings, but just as he would occasionally sub in for Paul Sewald, Matt Brash could still get the call every now and then in the ninth no matter how well Munoz is pitching.
Aug 27 2023Munoz struck out three batters in a perfect inning and earned a save over the Royals on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz fired 10 of 14 pitches for strikes and forced five whiffs in his dominant appearances. He yielded three hits and two walks over his previous two innings. The 24-year-old has now converted 10 of his 13 save chances while producing a 2.63 ERA and a 53:18 K:BB through 37.2 frames.
Aug 25 2023Munoz allowed a hit and two walks while striking out one over a scoreless inning to earn the save in Friday's 7-5 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz took a blown save in his appearance versus the White Sox on Wednesday, but he was able to preserve a two-run lead this time around. He's allowed multiple baserunners in six of his last 10 appearances, posting an 11:7 K:BB while allowing seven runs (three earned) and 12 hits over 10 innings in that span. Despite the dramatic nature of those outings, he's converted five of his seven save chances and added a hold. Munoz is at a 2.70 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 50:18 K:BB with nine saves and 13 holds over 36.2 innings this season.
Aug 23 2023Munoz notched his eighth save in a win over the White Sox on Tuesday, recording the final out of the game on a strikeout. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Despite its brevity, Munoz's save opportunity was anything but easy considering it involved retiring the dangerous Luis Robert with a man aboard. The right-hander got the job done on just four pitches, putting the prodigious slugger away swinging on a 97 mph sinker to convert his second straight save chance and generate his third consecutive scoreless appearance. Munoz appears to be settling into the primary closer role, although the ninth-inning job in Seattle isn't as centered on one pitcher as it is on other clubs around baseball.
Aug 21 2023Munoz recorded his 13th hold in a win over the Astros on Sunday, firing a perfect eighth inning during which he recorded a strikeout. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The right-hander had notched a save while working around two hits in Friday's series opener, an outing that snapped a three-appearance streak with at least one run allowed for Munoz. He followed it up Sunday with his first clean outing since Aug. 3, which netted his first hold of August. Despite the occasional stumble, Munoz remains an elite source of strikeouts (11.8 K/9) and has done an excellent job keeping the ball in the park, having only allowed one home run across 34.1 innings over 35 appearances.
Aug 18 2023Munoz picked up his seventh save in Friday's 2-0 win over the Astros. He allowed two hits with no strikeouts or walks over a scoreless inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz earned his fifth save since the Mariners traded away former closer Paul Sewald at the deadline. It wasn't pretty as Munoz allowed two baserunners prior to inducing Yainer Diaz to hit into a game-ending double play. Munoz has been shaky of late, allowing 12 baserunners with only five strikeouts over his past six appearances spanning 6.2 innings, yet managing to give up only two earned runs over that stretch. On the year, he maintains a 2.70 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 44 strikeouts over 33.1 innings.
Aug 15 2023Munoz (3-5) blew the save, but picked up the win anyway Tuesday against Kansas City. He allowed three runs (none earned) on two hits and two walks over 1.2 innings. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Despite owning a three-run lead with three outs to go, Munoz was unable to convert the save after giving up a pair of walks and a pair of singles as part of a three-run inning. However, the Mariners managed to pull out the victory in extra-innings, allowing Munoz to pick up his third win of the season. Munoz has now allowed a run to score in four of his last five appearances (5.2 innings) and owns a 2.12 WHIP during that span.
Aug 13 2023Munoz (2-5) took the extra-inning loss against the Orioles on Saturday, allowing an unearned run on one hit over one inning. He struck out one. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz got the call following nine masterful innings from starter George Kirby, but matters got challenging immediately when inning-opening runner Cedric Mullins swiped third and Ryan Mountcastle subsequently singled him home to lead off the 10th frame. Munoz retired Baltimore in order after that point, but the Mariners went down 1-2-3 on swinging strikes in the home half of the inning against the dominant Felix Bautista. The end result was Munoz's fourth straight losing decision dating back to July 8, but his first stumble in a month of August during which he's already compiled four saves while pitching to a 1.80 ERA and 9:2 K:BB across five innings over five appearances.
Aug 8 2023Munoz allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 2-0 win over the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz has a save in all four of his appearances in August, striking out eight and walking two while allowing one run over four innings this month. The right-hander is up to six saves to go with 12 holds through 30 appearances this season. He's maintained a 2.83 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 42:13 K:BB through 28.2 innings. Based on usage since Paul Sewald was traded to Arizona, it appears Munoz has the upper hand on Matt Brash -- who earned a hold with a scoreless eighth inning Tuesday -- for save chances.
Aug 5 2023Munoz allowed a run on two hits and two walks while striking out two over one inning to pick up the save in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz walked the tightrope for this one, getting two outs on 14 pitches before allowing four straight batters to reach. He loaded the bases on an intentional walk and then struck out Hunter Renfroe to close it out. Munoz's velocity gives him closer qualities, but he's prone to the occasional nightmarish outing. He's converted all three of his save chances since Paul Sewald was traded to Arizona. Matt Brash, who earned the save Friday, worked a scoreless eighth inning for a hold in Saturday's contest. Given both Munoz and Brash have appeared three times in the last four days, someone like Justin Topa could have a chance to vulture a save should a chance arise Sunday.
Aug 3 2023Munoz earned a save against the Angels on Thursday, striking out all three batters he faced in a perfect ninth inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After Seattle rallied to take the lead with a four-run ninth inning, Munoz was summoned to slam the door on the Angels. He did so with aplomb, fanning all three batters he faced on 16 pitches. By doing so, Munoz notched a save for the second straight day. He appears to be the clear closer of choice for Seattle with Paul Sewald now in Arizona.
Aug 2 2023Munoz is in line to serve as the Mariners' primary closer following the trade of Paul Sewald to the Diamondbacks on Monday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Sewald had logged 24 save chances overall for the Mariners and Seattle is expected to remain a viable wild-card contender for the foreseeable future. Therefore, the potential closing workload Sewald's exit creates should afford Munoz his fair share of save chances, and the hard-throwing right-hander certainly has the stuff -- including a fastball that averages 99.1 mph -- for a ninth-inning role. However, the newfound opportunity comes in the midst of a handful of recent hiccups for Munoz, who's allowed an earned run in four of his last 10 appearances while taking three losses. The 24-year-old has converted two of the three save opportunities he's seen across 24 appearances thus far in 2023, and if he were to struggle as a closing option, fellow right-hander Matt Brash could conceivably be given a look in that role as well.
Jul 30 2023Munoz (2-4) took the loss against the Diamondbacks on Saturday, surrendering an earned run on a hit and a walk over one inning. He also committed a balk. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Entrusted with preserving a 3-3 tie when he entered in his usual eighth-inning slot, Munoz got into trouble immediately by walking leadoff hitter Corbin Carroll, advancing him to second base on a balk, allowing his steal of third and subsequently surrendering a go-ahead single to Dominic Canzone. The Mariners couldn't overcome the one-run deficit in the ninth, marking Munoz's third straight losing decision dating back to July 8. It's been a bit of a rockier month than usual for the hard-throwing right-hander, who's accompanied his five holds and one save in that span with three defeats and a blown save opportunity across 12.1 innings.
Jul 26 2023Munoz picked up the save Wednesday against the Twins, working around a hit in a scoreless inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With Paul Sewald having pitched in Seattle's previous two games, Munoz was called upon to work the ninth Wednesday. He maneuvered around a leadoff single, closing out an 8-7 win to pick up his second save of the year -- his first since Opening Day. The 24-year-old Munoz had struggled to a 6.10 ERA over his previous 10 appearances (10.1 innings). Still, the right-hander has high-end potential and appears to be the next man up behind Sewald in the Mariners' bullpen. Munoz now sports a 2.82 ERA with a 1.12 WHIP and 32:9 K:BB across 22.1 innings this season.
Jul 23 2023Munoz secured his 10th hold in a win over the Blue Jays on Saturday, firing a perfect eighth inning during which he recorded a strikeout. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The hard-throwing right-hander righted his ship with a sharp 13-pitch outing after having taken his third loss of the season Wednesday versus the Twins. Munoz has now reached double-digit holds for the second straight season, and despite some infrequent hiccups, he's sporting an impressive 2.66 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 13.3 K/9 and 0.4 HR/9 across 21 appearances.
Jul 20 2023Munoz (2-3) took the loss against the Twins on Wednesday, allowing an earned run on two hits and two walks over one inning. He struck out one. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The hard-throwing right-hander suffered yet another stumble, marking the third time in his last eight appearances in which he's allowed at least one earned run. Munoz's troubles Wednesday came about due to a combination of some small ball and an error, as he yielded singles to Max Kepler and Willi Castro before Tom Murphy's passed ball allowed Kepler to cross the plate with the tie-breaking run. Munoz still has a pair of wins, nine holds and one save, but he's posted a 6.48 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over the 8.1 innings covering that aforementioned uneven eight-appearance sample.
Jul 9 2023Munoz (2-2) took the loss Saturday against the Astros, allowing an earned run on a solo home run over one inning. He also walked a batter and struck out two. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The flamethrowing right-hander experienced a rare hiccup when he surrendered a 371-foot one-out solo homer to Martin Maldonado, which snapped a 2-2 tie and ultimately saddled Munoz with the loss. Munoz hadn't allowed a ball to leave the yard over his first 16 appearances, so Saturday's stumble can safely be labeled an outlier for the high-leverage asset who has also garnered seven holds while posting a 2.81 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 37.5 percent strikeout rate.
Jul 4 2023Munoz (2-1) recorded the win over the Giants on Monday, firing a perfect eighth inning during which he recorded two strikeouts. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: A little over 24 hours after recording his first win of the season, Munoz was even sharper while getting seven of his eight pitches in for strikes during a blink-and-you-missed-it-perfect frame. The caliber of Munoz's performances in each of the last two outings further corroborates that his one stumble of the season three appearances ago against the White Sox is a true outlier. In addition to his two victories, Munoz has also rewarded fantasy managers with six holds, a 2.57 ERA, a 0.93 WHIP and a 13.5 K/9.
Jul 3 2023Munoz (1-1) got the win against the Rays on Sunday, firing a scoreless seventh inning during which he recorded a strikeout. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Less than 48 hours after a rare meltdown in Friday's loss, Munoz was right back to his usual sharp shelf in Sunday's appearance. The right-hander fired 12 of 16 pitches for strikes, and he's now generated scoreless appearances in 13 of his 14 trips to the mound this season while forging an elite 19:4 K:BB across 13 innings.
Jul 1 2023Munoz (0-1) took the loss against the Rays on Friday, allowing four earned runs on four hits over one-plus inning. He did not issue a walk or record a strikeout. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Both the Mariners as a whole and Munoz in particular saw their nights take sudden ugly turns after encouraging starts. The normally reliable right-hander cruised through his first frame upon entering in the seventh, preserving a 4-4 tie with a 1-2-3 inning. However, Munoz would go on to play an integral role in Tampa Bay's eight-run eighth, failing to retire any of the four batters he faced while directly surrendering two runs and being charged with two more when runners he'd left on base upon exiting eventually crossed the plate. Prior to Friday, Munoz hadn't given up a run since Sept. 29, his penultimate appearance of 2022. Despite the hiccup, the flamethrowing 24-year-old should continue to enjoy plenty of high-leverage opportunities given his track record.
Jun 27 2023Munoz recorded his sixth hold in a win over the Nationals on Monday, firing a scoreless eighth inning during which he issued a walk and recorded two strikeouts. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz had exited Saturday's appearance against the Orioles due to feeling light-headed, but the clean bill of health doctors gave him after checking him out appears to have been on target. The fireballing right-hander was back in his usual setup role and essentially breezed through his one frame, pounding 11 of 16 pitches in for strikes. Munoz has now recorded a hold in five of his seven appearances since returning from a near-two-month absence due to a shoulder injury.
Jun 24 2023Munoz left Saturday's game versus the Orioles because he felt light-headed, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mariners manager Scott Servais told reporters after the extra-inning loss to Baltimore that Munoz was checked out by doctors at the park, and that he thinks he'll be fine. The hard-throwing reliever should be considered day-to-day at this stage.
Jun 11 2023Munoz was credited with his third hold in a win over the Angels on Saturday, firing 1.1 scoreless innings during which he recorded three strikeouts. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The fireballing right-hander was making his second appearance since being activated from an extended stay on the injured list due to a deltoid strain. As was the case with his return appearance Tuesday, Munoz did not disappoint, getting his four outs on an efficient 15 pitches while pounding 11 in for strikes. Manager Scott Servais took the opportunity to get both Munoz and fellow high-leverage asset Paul Sewald some work in the non-save scenario -- the latter worked the ninth inning. However, the order of their late-inning usage could conceivably be flipped in any given game moving forward considering how effective Munoz already looks despite his long layoff.
Jun 6 2023Munoz (shoulder) struck out two in a perfect inning, earning a hold in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz missed the better part of two months with a shoulder strain. He looked great in his return with a fastball that touched just over 100 mph and four whiffs on 16 pitches. Munoz has given up four hits and a walk while striking out five over 4.1 innings this season, and his usage Tuesday suggests he could immediately resume a high-leverage role. For now, Paul Sewald is the Mariners' preferred closer, but Munoz certainly has the stuff to potentially eke out his fair share of save chances.
Jun 5 2023The Mariners are expected to reinstate Munoz (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list ahead of Tuesday's series opener in San Diego, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though Munoz has been on the shelf since April 9 with a right deltoid strain, he's looked as effective as ever since starting a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma last week. He's yet to allow a hit over three scoreless innings, striking out three batters in those appearances while displaying his typical upper-90s fastball velocity. Heading into the season, Munoz was projected to be part of a committee at closer with Paul Sewald, but Munoz may have to settle for a setup role upon his return while Sewald has turned in a 2.96 ERA and 0.90 WHIP this season en route to converting all but one of his 12 save chances.
Jun 4 2023Munoz (shoulder) fired a scoreless fourth inning during which he issued a walk and recorded a strikeout in Triple-A Tacoma's loss to Sacramento on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz's second rehab appearance saw him fire eight of 15 pitches for strikes and put together another scoreless outing. Rainiers play-by-play broadcaster Mike Curto reports the right-hander threw 10 sliders and five fastballs, with the heater sitting between 97-99 mph. Munoz's velocity is clearly in formidable shape, lending credence to the notion he may only need a couple of more outings at most on the farm before being deemed ready for activation.
May 31 2023Munoz (shoulder) fired a perfect fourth inning in Triple-A Tacoma's loss to Sacramento on Tuesday, recording two strikeouts. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The hard-throwing right-hander was finally able to jump back into game action after hitting the injured list back on April 9. Munoz fired 12 of 19 pitches for strikes and seemed to have his trademark swing-and-miss stuff in strong form judging by his pair of punchouts. Given the length of his absence, Munoz is slated for multiple rehab appearances with the Rainiers before being deemed ready for activation.
May 29 2023Munoz (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz had to be shut down for a bit following a setback with his right shoulder, but he's been throwing without issue of late and is ready to test things out in game action. The Mariners have a June 1-11 road trip and, if all goes well, the fireballing reliever could be back at some point during that trip.
May 22 2023Munoz (shoulder) could rejoin the Mariners in early June, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: GM Justin Hollander spoke about Munoz's status Monday, and he noted that after the pitcher threw a light bullpen session earlier in the day, he "told the medical staff this is the best he's felt since spring." Munoz will likely head out on a rehab assignment shortly, and if all goes well, he could rejoin the Mariners during the team's upcoming road trip that stretches from June 1-11.
May 18 2023Munoz (shoulder) resumed throwing on flat ground Thursday after he received a platelet-rich plasma injection earlier this month, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz was given the shot after experiencing a setback with his right shoulder. He's expected to know within the next couple days whether he can progress to throwing off a mound, which could quickly lead to a rehab assignment. Things are trending in the right direction, but the Mariners will go slowly with their prized reliever.
May 9 2023Munoz (shoulder) underwent a PRP shot last week, and he won't be ready to go out on a rehab assignment until the end of the month, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz underwent an MRI after not feeling right after his last bullpen session, and the results revealed minor inflammation in his right shoulder. What was originally announced as a minor injury that could only require the right-hander to miss the minimum 15 days has now seen him miss over a month, and it'll be at least another three weeks before he's able to return to the Seattle bullpen. Paul Sewald will continue to see the majority of save chances for Seattle while Munoz recovers.
Apr 29 2023Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said Saturday that Munoz (shoulder) is still finishing up his throwing program at the team's spring training complex, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz did not embark on a minor-league rehab assignment this weekend as had been the hope, but Hollander says that should happen "fairly soon." He threw two days ago without issue and has not suffered any sort of setback in his recovery from a deltoid strain. It sounds like Seattle is just practicing a little caution with the hard-throwing reliever and that he remains on track to return sometime in early-to-mid May.
Mar 31 2023Munoz picked up the save in Thursday's 3-0 win over the Guardians. He allowed two hits and no walks or strikeouts in a scoreless frame. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Paul Sewald handled a scoreless top of the eighth inning with the game tied 0-0 and the 6-7-8 hitters in the Guardians' order due up. After the Mariners scored three times in the bottom of the frame they turned things over to Munoz, who pitched around a single and a double. It was a rare outing without a strikeout for the right-hander -- he had just 14 of those last season among 64 appearances -- but his velocity was fine as he maxed out at 100.6 mph. Seattle figures to give both Munoz and Sewald save opportunities, but if one of them stakes a claim to the full-time closer job, it'll probably be Munoz.
Mar 20 2023Munoz (foot) made his official Cactus League debut in Monday's win over the Brewers, throwing a perfect inning during which he struck out the side on a minimum nine pitches. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz's long-awaited Cactus League debut could literally not have gone any better and served as a forceful corrobration of his return to health following offseason ankle surgery. Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports Munoz's putaway pitches consisted of a 100 mph fastball and two particularly impressive sliders, and that he also deployed the two-seam fastball he's been working on getting comfortable with on a couple of occasions. With his first taste of "A" game spring action out of the way, Munoz is likely to log at least several more appearances as he ramps up for Opening Day.
Mar 18 2023Munoz (foot) pitched in a B game against the Padres at the Peoria Sports Complex's back fields Thursday as planned, but he's yet to make his Cactus League debut. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports Munoz threw 18 pitches and had his fastball sitting at 97-98 mph during his outing against San Diego. However, Munoz also conceded he has some adjustments to make, noting he was "thinking too much about the pitch clock", which caused him to rush his delivery a bit. Most important, there were no reported setbacks with Munoz's surgically repaired ankle, and his next opportunity to make his official Cactus League debut comes Sunday in split-squad action against either the Rangers or White Sox.
Mar 16 2023Munoz (foot) will make an appearance in a B game Thursday, Corey Brock of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The plan has been for Munoz to make his Cactus League debut Friday and that presumably will still happen. Munoz has been brought along slowly in camp following October foot surgery, but he's healthy and this point and just needs to knock some rust off. He and Paul Sewald and Munoz look like 1A and 1B at closer, respectively, for Seattle this season.
Mar 14 2023Munoz (foot) is expected to make his Cactus League debut Friday against the Padres, the team's official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The flame-throwing right-hander has thrown three successful live batting practice sessions, the most recent unfolding Monday. Munoz underwent foot surgery Oct. 27, but he feels he is starting to approach full health. "I feel pretty good. It's the first time that I faced hitters in a lot of time, so I don't feel as comfortable as I'm supposed to at this point," Muñoz said on March 10. "But I am getting there. I am getting the feeling of the ball again and working on my pitches."
Mar 10 2023Munoz (ankle) threw a live batting practice session Friday, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz will throw one more live batting practice session before making an appearance in a Cactus League contest. The right-hander underwent foot surgery in the offseason, and the team is being conservative to make sure there's no setback. Munoz was dominant in 2022, and while he may not see the bulk of save opportunities, he's the rare reliever who can be relevant in fantasy because of his ability to miss bats.
Mar 9 2023Munoz (foot) is expected to need 1-2 more live batting practice sessions before appearing in a Cactus League game, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mariners manager Scott Servais said that the team is "slow-playing" Munoz following offseason foot surgery, but the flame-throwing reliever is "looking good" and "feels great." Munoz will be in the mix for saves again this season alongside Paul Sewald. He has the potential to be a lockdown closer if given the job, but his manager has a track record of not settling on one guy.
Mar 6 2023Munoz (foot) was slated to throw a live batting practice Monday, the Mariners' official site report. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's a significant step for Munoz in his ongoing recovery from October 2022 foot surgery, and if he experiences no residual setbacks, it would leave him poised to next test himself in a Cactus League game. The 24-year-old was a critical bullpen asset for manager Scott Servais last season while amassing four saves and 22 holds, even as he played through discomfort for a good portion of the campaign. Assuming a return to full health, Munoz should have ample opportunities in a setup role behind presumed top closer Paul Sewald, but the former's triple-digit fastball should earn him his fair share of save chances as well.
Feb 23 2023Mariners manager Scott Servais noted Thursday that Munoz is ahead of schedule in his recovery from October bone-fusion surgery in his right foot, Shannon Drayer of MyNorthwest.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: "I am very happy with what I've seen there, and he feels good about where he's at," said Servais. Munoz is not yet on the pitching schedule for Cactus League games, but he's already thrown a number of bullpen sessions without issue this spring in Mariners camp. The expectation is that the high-leverage reliever will be 100 percent in time for Opening Day.
Feb 1 2023Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said Wednesday that Munoz (foot) has been out of a walking boot for the past two weeks and has started a throwing program, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz underwent foot surgery after a breakout 2022 campaign in which the hard-throwing reliever post eda 2.49 ERA with four saves and 22 holds across 64 appearances. The 24-year-old should report to spring training with few limitations, if any, and while he may not see the majority of save chances with Seattle to begin the season, his ability to miss bats makes him relevant in several fantasy formats.
Oct 19 2022GM Jerry Dipoto said Wednesday that Munoz will undergo foot surgery, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 23-year-old was a key bullpen piece for Seattle this year with four saves, 22 holds and a 2.49 ERA across 64 appearances, and he'll go under the knife for a foot issue after the loss to the Astros in the ALCS. Munoz surrendered three runs over three innings against Houston, though it's unclear how much, if at all, the injury contributed to his struggles. The specifics of the procedure remain unclear, but the right-hander will have nearly four months to recover ahead of spring training.
Sep 24 2022Munoz earned a save against the Royals on Saturday, allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Top closer Paul Sewald was deployed in the seventh and eighth innings, giving Munoz the opportunity to handle the ninth. He allowed a one-out single but retired the final two batters to secure his fourth save. Sewald leads Seattle with 19 saves on the campaign, but Saturday was a reminder that Munoz remains a candidate for an occasional closing opportunity. This was his first save since Aug. 25, however.
Aug 28 2022Munoz (2-5) took the loss and blown save during Saturday's 4-3 defeat at the hands of the Guardians, allowing three runs on two hits and a walk in one inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz was selected to pitch the eighth inning of a 3-1 game and surrendered three straight baserunners followed by two productive outs to let in three runs and fall in line for the loss. Despite his first negative marks since July 28, the 23-year-old threw only one ball following a leadoff walk, though he failed to record a strikeout for the first time in 11 appearances. The poor outing raised his ERA and WHIP to 2.94 and 0.96 respectively across 52 innings and 51 appearances.
Aug 25 2022Munoz did not allow a baserunner and struck out three across 1.1 scoreless innings to earn the save Thursday against the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz entered the game in the eighth inning with the tying run on base, but he struck out Jose Ramirez to end the threat. He then worked through the final frame with minimal difficulty to pick up his third save of the season. It was Munoz's first save since Aug. 2, and since then Erik Swanson has collected one save and Paul Sewald three. Though Munoz doesn't appear to be in line to serve as the regular closer, he has an excellent 2.47 ERA and 82:13 K:BB across 51 innings on the season.
Aug 16 2022Munoz (2-4) recorded the win over the Angels on Monday, firing a scoreless eighth inning during which he allowed two hits and recorded a strikeout. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The flamethrowing right-hander pounded 11 of 13 pitches in for strikes and worked around the two singles he gave up to Shohei Ohtani and Jared Walsh by striking out Steven Duggar to end the inning. Munoz was then rewarded with his second victory courtesy of the Mariners' wild rally in the top of the ninth inning, and he now boasts an 0.67 ERA, 0.63 WHIP and jaw-dropping 15.7 K/9 in the 27 frames covering his last 24 appearances.
Aug 13 2022Munoz, who garnered his 16th hold in a win over the Rangers on Friday, has allowed just one hit and boasts a 12:3 K:BB across the 5.2 scoreless innings covering his last five appearances. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz also has three holds and a save during that span, giving fantasy managers in formats that value relievers a significant boost overall. The fireballing right-hander has a 2.72 ERA and 0.93 WHIP for the season, and although Paul Sewald is doing a solid job in the closer's role for the time being, Munoz certainly has the stuff to step into the highest-leverage situations if called upon.
Jul 29 2022Munoz (1-4) took the loss against the Astros on Thursday, allowing two earned runs on one hit, a hit batsman and a wild pitch over one inning. He struck out one. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was about as messy an outing as the final line implies, as Munoz created plenty of trouble for himself and failed to maintain the 2-2 tie he'd been entrusted with preserving. It was a rare hiccup for the flamethrowing right-hander, who'd last given up an earned run June 10, a span of 17 appearances.
Jul 3 2022Munoz secured his seventh hold in a win over the Athletics on Sunday, firing 1.1 perfect innings during which he recorded three strikeouts. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The right-hander pounded 12 of his 19 pitches in for strikes in what was his seventh straight appearance without allowing an earned run. Munoz is parlaying his elite stuff into plenty of late-inning success, as he's recorded three holds while pitching to a 1.76 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 12.3 K/9 across the 15.1 innings covering his last 13 trips to the mound.
Jun 25 2022Munoz secured his fifth hold in a win over the Angels on Friday, firing 1.2 scoreless innings during which he allowed a walk and recorded three strikeouts. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The fireballing Munoz was dominant except for the one free pass he issued, ringing up at least three strikeouts for the fourth consecutive appearance. Munoz has increasingly developed into a trusted higher-leverage option for manager Scott Servais, as he's carrying a 2.03 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 12.8 K/9 across the 13.1 innings covering his last 12 appearances.
Jun 20 2022Munoz fired a scoreless eighth inning in a loss to the Angels on Sunday, allowing two hits and an unearned run while striking out the side. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz worked himself out of trouble and threw 14 of 19 pitches for strikes despite allowing the two baserunners and one run. The fireballing right-hander hasn't allowed an earned run in eight of his last 10 appearances, and he has a sparkling 9:0 K:BB across the 3.2 frames covering his last three outings.
Jun 9 2022Munoz recorded his fourth hold in a win over the Astros on Wednesday, firing a scoreless seventh inning during which he allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The hard-throwing right-hander lowered his ERA to 4.66 with his fifth scoreless effort in the last six appearances. Munoz's only real stumble of the season came in a May 22 appearance against the Red Sox during which he gave up five runs (four earned) over two-thirds of an inning, but he's otherwise been a reliable setup option while cranking out an impressive 11.6 K/9 with the help of a fastball that's averaging a jaw-dropping 99.7 mph.
May 23 2022Munoz (1-2) took the loss and was charged with a blown save in an extra-inning defeat at the hands of the Red Sox on Sunday, allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Charged with protecting a just-forged 4-3 lead in the bottom of the 10th inning, Munoz ran into immediate trouble by allowing the first four hitters he faced to reach base before eventually yielding a 419-foot game-winning grand slam to Franchy Cordero. The hard-throwing right-hander's rough outing was his first serious stumble of 2022, as he hadn't allowed more than the two earned runs he yielded in his first appearance of the season April 9 until Sunday.
May 15 2022Munoz (1-1) took the loss against the Mets on Saturday, allowing an earned run on two hits and recording two strikeouts over one inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz threw an impressive 15 of 17 pitches for strikes, but he still took the loss thanks to allowing a go-ahead home run to Patrick Mazeika. The hard-throwing right-hander has now allowed an earned run in three of his last five appearances, pushing his ERA and WHIP to 4.22 and 1.50, respectively.
May 9 2022Munoz fired a perfect seventh inning in an extra-inning win over the Rays on Sunday, striking out the side. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz was close to absolutely perfect, tossing just four pitches over the minimum and getting 12 of those 13 offerings into the strike zone. The hard-throwing right-hander had put together six straight scoreless efforts until allowing a pair of earned runs over his last two appearances, so Sunday's stellar showing represented a return to the impressive form he's displayed the majority of the season.
Apr 22 2022Munoz picked up the save during Friday's 4-1 win over the Royals, allowing a hit and a walk with one strikeout in the ninth inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With Drew Steckenrider and Diego Castillo struggling of late and Paul Sewald on the Covid-19 IL, Manager Scott Servais turned to the 23-year-old Munoz for Friday's save and he delivered. Despite permitting two baserunners, Munoz was never in any real danger and has shown significant strikeout upside with 11 in six innings this season. Despite limited big-league experience --23.2 innings over the last three seasons --Munoz is logging meaningful innings and is a reliever to keep an eye on if he receives more save chances.
Apr 12 2022Munoz fired a perfect eighth inning in a loss to the Twins on Monday, striking out the side on 13 pitches. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The dominant outing offered a glimpse of what the rocket-armed Munoz is capable of in terms of missing bats. The right-hander now has five strikeouts across two innings over his first two appearances, and given his impressive arsenal, he seemingly could work himself into some closing opportunities over the course of the season.
Apr 10 2022Munoz was credited with the win in a victory over the Twins on Saturday despite allowing two earned runs on a hit and a walk over one inning. He struck out two. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz yielded a leadoff walk to Nick Gordon in the eighth inning before surrendering a go-ahead two-run home run to Byron Buxton. The flamethrowing right-hander settled down after that, retiring Luis Arraez, Carlos Correa and Jorge Polanco in order, the latter two on swinging strikes. His ability to limit the damage would prove critical, as the Mariners were able to mount their own rally in the ninth that would lead to the one-run win. Munoz's ability to focus following his rocky start is likely to help build trust with manager Scott Servais with respect to additional higher-leverage assignments early in the season.
Apr 3 2022Munoz is a candidate to see even more work in later innings early in the season as a result of Ken Giles' finger injury, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The flamethrowing right-hander already has the arsenal of a potential late-inning ace, and with the Mariners down an experienced hand in Giles for at least the first month of the season, it seems Munoz will be a beneficiary. The 23-year-old has fired three scoreless innings across three appearances this spring, allowing two hits and recording a pair of strikeouts along the way.
Mar 29 2022Munoz has logged two scoreless innings during which he's allowed one hit and recorded two strikeouts across his first two Cactus League appearances this spring. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The flamethrowing right-hander's arrival in camp was delayed by visa issues, but he's made good use of his scant opportunities thus far. Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports that Munoz, who's already the hardest thrower on staff, is also working on refining his slider to reduce the sweep it has at the moment. The 23-year-old, who's logged just five total appearances -- four at the minor-league level -- since 2019 due to Tommy John surgery, should be a key late-inning option for manager Scott Servais in the coming season.
Mar 21 2022Munoz will throw a live batting practice session Monday after resolving the visa issue that delayed his arrival at big-league camp, Corey Brock of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The fact that Munoz is facing hitters shortly after reporting to camp suggests that he was able to do some ramping up on his own while he was away from the team. After inking a four-year extension in November, Munoz is locked in as a critical late-inning piece for Seattle entering 2022. The availability of Munoz -- who was limited to one late-season appearance in 2021 while finishing up his recovery from Tommy John surgery -- takes on added importance after ace setup man Casey Sadler was ruled out for the season Sunday after undergoing shoulder surgery.
Mar 14 2022Munoz has yet to report to Mariners camp as of Monday due to visa issues, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In addition to Munoz, visa issues have also prevented outfield prospect Alberto Rodriguez and non-roster utility man Erick Mejia from arriving for the start of camp. After inking a four-year contract extension in November, Munoz is expected to fill a high-leverage role out of the bullpen in 2022, but his absence to begin camp could hurt his chances of factoring into the Mariners' murky closing picture.
Nov 30 2021Munoz agreed to a four-year, $7.5 million contract with the Mariners on Tuesday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The deal will buy out all of Munoz's arbitration years and also includes multiple club options. The 22-year-old righty missed all but the final weekend of the 2021 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he showcased himself well in his first taste of big-league action in 2019 with a 3.91 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 30:11 K:BB over 23 innings.
Oct 2 2021Munoz (elbow) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz underwent Tommy John surgery in March of 2020, though he only began throwing off a mound in July of the 2021 season after suffering a setback. However, he has progressed well since, throwing a total of 3.2 innings on a rehab assignment -- most of which came with Triple-A Tacoma. He isn't likely to serve in a high-leverage role out of the bullpen immediately, but he could contribute to the Mariners' final push for the playoffs.
Sep 21 2021Munoz (elbow) is scheduled to make the second appearance of his rehab assignment at Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday, Tacoma radio broadcaster Mike Curto reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Mariners aren't expected to bring Munoz back from the 60-day injured list during the final two weeks of the season, but the right-hander looks well on his way to entering spring training in 2022 without any restrictions. Following an 18-month recovery from Tommy John surgery, Munoz made his first appearance in affiliated ball since 2019 on Friday, when he struck out the side while pitching for the Mariners' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate. The dominant showing was enough for the Mariners to move him up to Triple-A, where he'll presumably make a handful of appearances before season's end.
Aug 29 2021Munoz's (elbow) fastball has reportedly touched 99 miles per hour during his recent throwing sessions at the Mariners' spring training facility in Arizona, Corey Brock of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz's velocity as well as his own comments about the health of his surgically repaired elbow would seem to suggest he's ready for game action, but the Mariners don't intend to have him pitch in games in 2021. Instead, the 22-year-old right-hander -- who underwent Tommy John surgery last March -- will turn his focus to competing for a late-inning bullpen role with Seattle in spring training.
Jul 29 2021Munoz (elbow) has begun a throwing program, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz threw off a mound in the middle of July and will continue to ramp up his work while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He is not expected to return to formal game action this season, though his progress bodes well for a potential return early in the 2022 campaign.
Jul 17 2021Munoz (elbow) threw off a mound Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz had his rehab process from Tommy John surgery paused in March because of a setback. The right-hander appears to have made substantial progress since, however, as he's reached the important milestone of throwing a bullpen session. It's still not entirely clear if Munoz could become an option to join the Mariners' bullpen during the season's final months, but that will likely depend on how he continues to progress in the coming weeks.
Apr 19 2021Munoz (elbow), whose rehabilitation process from Tommy John surgery was halted in March due to a setback, still hasn't resumed throwing, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 22-year-old fireballer boasts a 105 mph fastball, so there's undoubtedly plenty of anticipation with respect to seeing him in game action. However, while the Mariners had hoped at one point that would be possible by early June, Munoz's extended pause is beginning to put that timeline in some doubt.
Mar 18 2021Mariners manager Scott Servais said Thursday that Munoz (elbow) hasn't been throwing much recently following a setback in his recovery, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz was already slated to miss significant time to begin the regular season following Tommy John surgery in March 2020, but he's been limited over the past few weeks due to a minor setback. Servais didn't sound too concerned about Munoz's setback, but it's not yet clear when the right-hander will be able to resume throwing.
Feb 18 2021Munoz (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list Thursday, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz underwent Tommy John surgery in March of 2020 and is still in the midst of his rehab. He has been able to throw bullpen sessions in the early portions of spring training and appears on track for approximately a June return. Munoz's placement on the injured list made room on the 40-man roster for James Paxton.
Dec 16 2020Munoz (elbow) is throwing off a mound and could join the Mariners' bullpen by June, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz underwent Tommy John surgery in March, but he appears to be progressing well in his recovery. While he won't be ready to debut with his new team by Opening Day, the Mariners hope that he'll be able to return by June as long as he doesn't face any setbacks.
Aug 30 2020Munoz (elbow) was traded from the Padres to the Mariners on Sunday for Austin Nola and several other players, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz underwent Tommy John surgery in March and will miss the entire 2020 season as a result. He could return at some point in 2021, but he'll go through his recovery process with a new organization. The right-hander was effective in his first taste of major-league action last year as he posted a 3.91 ERA and 30.9 percent strikeout rate over 23 innings with the Padres prior to being shut down.
Jun 29 2020The Padres placed Munoz (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The transaction was merely procedural after Munoz required Tommy John surgery back in March. He'll miss the entire 2020 season and could miss a portion of the 2021 campaign while recovering from the procedure.
Mar 20 2020Munoz underwent Tommy John surgery Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz was shut down for workload reasons in mid-September after posting a 3.91 ERA and a 30.9 percent strikeout rate in his 23-inning debut, but the plan to keep him healthy evidently didn't work. A typical recovery timeline would keep him out of action until sometime in the middle of the 2021 season, though he'll still be just 22 years old at that point and will have plenty of time to develop into a shutdown reliever.
Mar 2 2020Munoz completed his first simulated game of the spring Sunday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though Munoz reported to camp completely healthy, the Padres are deliberately taking things slowly this spring with the 21-year-old, who is viewed as a key piece in the big-league bullpen in both the immediate and long term. He's expected to toss a bullpen session Tuesday before likely pitching in his first Cactus League game as soon as Thursday. The hard-throwing righty was impressive in his first taste of the big leagues in 2019, posting a 3.91 ERA (3.16 FIP), 1.17 WHIP and 30:11 K:BB in 23 frames.
Sep 18 2019Munoz won't pitch again this season, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Munoz pitched 58.2 total innings between the minor and major leagues in 2019, more than doubling last year's workload. The fireballing rookie held a 1.69 ERA following his 20th big-league outing Sept. 7 but appeared fatigued over his final two appearances, giving up six runs in 1.2 innings to inflate his season ERA to 3.91. Nonetheless, Munoz turned a lot of heads in his first stint in the majors, averaging 99.9 mph on his fastball and posting an impressive 11.7 K/9 while frequently pitching in high-leverage situations. The 20-year-old is likely to be a key part of the Padres' bullpen next season.
Aug 29 2019Munoz got the save against the Giants on Thursday, giving up one earned run on one hit in the ninth inning before closing out San Diego's 5-3 victory. He struck out
Jul 30 2019Munoz worked around two hits to cover 1.2 scoreless innings in Monday's 8-1 win over the Orioles. He struck out two in the 22-pitch appearance.
Jul 12 2019Munoz's contract was selected from Triple-A El Paso prior to Friday's game against the Braves, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.