SEATTLE -- Bryan Woo has joked regularly throughout this season that he doesn’t want to throw too many compliments in Cal Raleigh’s direction for fear that it could get to his catcher’s ego. They’re all good-natured jests from Seattle’s third-year right-hander, who was roommates with Raleigh last season.
Yet at this point, Woo has put together a case that might be worthy to join Raleigh at the Midsummer Classic in Atlanta -- especially after his latest gem in Friday afternoon’s 6-0 win over the Pirates at T-Mobile Park.
Raleigh again stole the show with two massive homers that tied Ken Griffey Jr. for the most in franchise history before the All-Star break (35). But Woo’s efforts -- six scoreless innings with just three hits and two walks to go with eight strikeouts -- were just as vital to the Mariners’ victory.
“He’s been our rock,” Raleigh said.
Woo is now 17-for-17 this season in clearing the sixth inning, making him MLB’s only starter to go that deep that regularly. That itself has represented a huge step forward for a pitcher whose durability over his first two seasons was the final frontier he sought to cross.
And that volume has added more credence to his All-Star-caliber résumé.
So far, Raleigh is the Mariners’ only official All-Star as the American League’s starting catcher. MLB hasn’t yet shared the rest of the American and National League rosters, as those will be revealed during a special ESPN telecast on Sunday at 2 p.m. PT. Pitchers and reserves for both squads -- totaling 23 players for each side -- will be determined via “Player Ballot” choices and selections made by the Commissioner’s Office.
Woo has admittedly allowed himself to think about the possibility of being selected -- and what it would mean to share the experience with Raleigh, who has become one of his closest friends.
“Obviously, I'm super proud of him, and I know the last couple of years definitely, he could have been deserving of going and he handled it as maturely as anybody,” Woo said. “So it'll be a lot of fun to watch. ... But, yeah, I mean, it's so far out of my control. If I can do it, great. It'd be awesome. But if not, I'm coming back here and still trying to do my job.”
Beyond the statistical accolades to make his All-Star case, Woo has stabilized a rotation that has seen its three most valuable pitchers from last season, at least by WAR, spend extended time on the injured list. Games like Friday’s -- a potential momentum-builder on the heels of a gut-punch loss to a reeling Royals club -- also underscored Woo’s value.
“He's taking that next step in his career and taking ownership of who he is as a pitcher,” Raleigh said, “and how he wants to go about his business. I'm very proud of him, and he's doing great things. I think he should be an All-Star.”
Whether or not Woo is invited to Atlanta, he has put together a strong first half -- with potentially even more to come.
“I still think he can take that next step, even higher,” Raleigh said. “We're talking next-level stuff, one of the best pitchers in the league. So he’s already had that caliber. But I still think there's some more in the tank.”