Dan Wilson is gearing up for a busier second spring training as the manager of the Seattle Mariners. This is largely due to 16 players from the organization participating in the upcoming World Baseball Classic (WBC), with potentially two more expected to join their national teams in later rounds.
Among the Mariners headed to the WBC are key players such as catcher Cal Raleigh (USA), center fielder Julio Rodríguez (Dominican Republic), first baseman Josh Naylor (Canada), left fielder Randy Arozarena (Mexico), closer Andrés Muñoz (Mexico), and reliever Gabe Speier (USA). With a significant portion of the roster competing internationally, Wilson and his staff are preparing to rely heavily on prospects and other players vying for roster spots.
During a media session at the Mariners’ complex in Peoria, Arizona, Wilson expressed confidence in the team’s preparations. “We’ve done a good job. Hats off to the training staff and the (high performance) staff to kind of put together the programs,” he said. “You kind of have to tailor them individually so guys are ready to go. We’ve kind of mapped out games, and I think we feel pretty confident that our guys will be ready to go.”
The Mariners boast the largest number of players participating in the WBC, which presents a unique opportunity to showcase their strong farm system. With top prospects like Colt Emerson and Lazaro Montes likely to see significant action in Cactus League play, the situation could yield unexpected advantages. Wilson noted, “I think the silver lining is that we have a lot of prospects in our organization that are going to get a chance to be seen and get opportunities here in spring training that maybe they wouldn’t have, or they maybe wouldn’t have gotten as many.”
Looking ahead, the Mariners could potentially head into opening day on March 26 without any member of their starting rotation having pitched outside of Arizona during spring training. The only starting pitcher likely to participate in the WBC is Luis Castillo, who was included in the designated pitcher pool for the Dominican Republic.
Bryan Woo, a first-time All-Star in 2025, opted to decline an opportunity to pitch for Team USA, citing concerns after dealing with a pectoral strain late last season. Wilson respected Woo’s decision, expressing his confidence in his readiness for the upcoming season. “Obviously you want to leave these decisions up to each guy, and I totally respect either way that you go,” Wilson said. “I’m glad that he’s decided to do what he did, and I think he’s well on his way to being prepared here for this year.”
With a mix of veteran players and new prospects, the Mariners are poised for an exciting spring training season, turning challenges into opportunities for growth and development as they head towards the regular season.