There might not be another team in baseball that will have more representatives in the 2026 World Baseball Classic than the Seattle Mariners.
This year's edition of the international competition will feature 16 Mariners players, both minor and major leaguers, representing 12 countries. That number could grow to 17 players if the Dominican Republic requires the services of starting pitcher Luis Castillo.
Outside of Castillo, who's on the designated pitcher pool and can be activated off it after the first round of quarterfinals of the WBC, no other Seattle starting pitcher is on a WBC roster, which came as somewhat of a surprise as rosters began to get unveiled.
Outside of Castillo, the Mariners' rotation boasts three All-Stars: Bryan Woo (2025), Logan Gilbert (2024) and George Kirby (2023).
Luis Castillo, Vicious 95mph Two Seamer. 😤
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 14, 2025
Getting a buckle on a pitch on the outer third.
22 Inches of Horizontal Break. pic.twitter.com/7xn0AelrTs
Woo received an invite to participate in the WBC but declined, according to recent comments made to Seattle Times reporter Adam Jude.
"I would have loved to do it," Woo said in an article written by Jude. "But I just wanted to be smart. ... Just trying to be smart about it. My priority is to be here."
Woo said that he was disappointed with how the 2025 season ended. He missed his final two starts of the regular season and didn't return until the American League Championship Series due to a pec injury.
Woo's ailment was part of a bigger injury bug experienced by the rotation. Gilbert, Kirby, Bryce Miller and Logan Evans also missed time due to various injuries. Evans will miss all of 2026 because elbow surgery.
However, Woo's commitment to the team, likely one shared by the rest of the team's starting hurlers, could mark a return to a form that can push Seattle from contenders to champions.
In 2024, the Mariners were the only team in baseball that had four pitchers start 30 or more games. It was a rare level of health that kept the team in playoff contention until the final week of the season.
Entering this season, Seattle's lineup boasts four 2025 All-Stars: center fielder Julio Rodriguez, catcher Cal Raleigh, left fielder Randy Arozarena and recent trade acquisition Brendan Donovan.
Whether it was on the field or in our community, you brought heart and hustle every day.
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) February 3, 2026
Thank you, Brendan Donovan! Best of luck in Seattle! pic.twitter.com/XU1VQCuyrF
If Seattle has that level of health and consistency from the rotation to couple with the lineup, there's a very good chance that the team can boast the best all-around roster in the American League. And a roster like that can help guide the Mariners to their first World Series in franchise history.
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