Muñoz, Mastrobuoni return to M’s camp cherishing WBC experiences

Randy Arozarena wasn’t the only recent returnee to Seattle Mariners camp from the World Baseball Classic this weekend. Miles Mastrobuoni and Andrés Muñoz were in the clubhouse Saturday morning and took time out of their days to talk with the media.

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As his teammates on Team Italy were getting ready for what would turn into an 8-6 quarterfinal win over Puerto Rico in Miami, Mastrobuoni was getting worked on in a training room in Peoria, Ariz. After playing in two games and coming up with a key RBI against Great Britain, a Grade 1 hamstring injury put an end to his 2026 WBC journey.

“We had an amazing group,” he said at his locker Saturday morning. “As you can see, how much fun we were having in the dugout and stuff like that. And that’s what it’s all about. A lot of talent on that team, so it was just fun to get that opportunity. It kind of sucks it was cut a little short. I’m a little frustrated at that, but I’m glad I was able to have that opportunity to be with that group of guys.”

It was in that game against Great Britain that Mastrobuoni felt something in the hamstring mid-game when he ran out to his position. At first he thought it was a cramp, but when it lingered he knew it was likely more. At that point, he knew it was best to stop. He has been rewarded in the last couple of days by taking steps forward and bouncing back nicely from a full day of work Friday.

“I’ve just got to be smart with it.” he said. “I came back today and responded well, so that’s definitely a good sign and a good step for me, just for me and my mental state and everything. So, I’ll keep trying to just stack days and not rush it. And of course the competitor in me is trying to get out there as soon as I can.”

As for his experience being a member of Team Italy for a second time? Nothing but good things, namely, the quick bond the team was able to create.

“Sometimes I feel like it was really like that with the first one too,” he said. “And sometimes I feel like it’s that heritage, that culture, we kind of just all like mesh well for some reason. That’s hats off to the guys that were there and everything like that. There wasn’t a bad egg in that in that locker room, so it was fun to just enjoy that stuff with the guys that you kind of play against around the league and stuff like that.”

‘Something I was dreaming about’

Across the clubhouse Muñoz was preparing to go out and throw a bullpen in front of the Mariners pitching coaches. Having not been able to pitch in the previous WBC due to foot surgery, Muñoz was determined to pitch in this one and prepared himself accordingly, showing up in Peoria early and throwing a 100-mph pitch in his first bullpen.

With Team Mexico, Muñoz threw sporadically pitching in two games while going four and six days without pitching in a game. To stay sharp and continue his preparation for the regular season, Muñoz threw three bullpens while being away from the Mariners. He reported feeling good about most of his pitches – the slider is not where he wants it – but still feels ahead of where he would normally be heading into a season.

“When I was in the bullpen over there, it felt like the season has already started,” he said. “That was a good thing because I got more preparation and just to get the feeling again of being in a big stadium and going out there and giving everything I’ve got.”

WBC schedule

While he had pitched in Houston many times before, some of which were huge situations for the Mariners, the adrenaline this time was different for Muñoz.

“Yes, because the fans are really, really loud,” he said. “For some reason they were louder. They were singing really loud with the Mexican songs. It’s something that never stops.”

When he said never, he meant never. Muñoz explained that in most games the crowd gets quiet before the pitch is thrown. In the WBC, the fans did not let up. The cheering was constant. It was the experience he hoped he would have.

“I wanted to be a part of a Mexican team and have the chance to be with Mexican fans and get to know them,” he said. “In the wins and losses they were with us all the time. Even when we were eliminated, they were in the hotel chanting for us. They are just great. They supported us in the good and bad games.”

While it was an early exit for the team, Muñoz found his time in a Team Mexico uniform incredibly rewarding.

“It was really special,” he said. “I am just really thankful I was able to do it this time. I was really disappointed when I wasn’t able to go to the last WBC. Just the opportunity to represent my country was a really good experience for me, something I was dreaming about.”

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