The Seattle Mariners have made a big move in their bullpen by trading for right-handed pitcher Paul Sewald. In return, the Mets received minor league pitcher Juan Then. To fill the void left by Sewald, the Mariners have decided to turn to Andres Muñoz to take on the closer role.
Muñoz is a 21-year-old right-handed pitcher who was signed by the Mariners as an international free agent in 2016. He has worked his way up through the minor leagues and made his major league debut in 2019. In his rookie season, Muñoz posted a 3.91 ERA in 24 appearances. He also struck out 27 batters in 22 innings of work.
The Mariners are hoping that Muñoz can step into the closer role and provide stability to the bullpen. He has shown flashes of brilliance in the past and has the potential to be a dominant closer. His fastball can reach triple digits and he has a good slider and changeup to keep hitters off balance.
Muñoz will have big shoes to fill as Sewald was one of the most reliable relievers in the Mariners bullpen last season. He posted a 2.50 ERA in 36 appearances and struck out 45 batters in 36 innings of work.
It will be interesting to see how Muñoz adjusts to the closer role and if he can provide the same level of production that Sewald did. The Mariners are hoping that Muñoz can take his game to the next level and help solidify the bullpen for years to come.
