Dan Wilson’s second spring training at the helm of the Seattle Mariners comes with a bit more complexity - and a lot more opportunity.
Sixteen players from the Mariners organization are gearing up to represent their countries in next month’s World Baseball Classic, with a couple more potentially joining in the later rounds. That’s a significant chunk of talent stepping away from camp, and it’s forcing Seattle to dig deeper into its depth chart earlier than usual. But for Wilson and the Mariners, this isn’t just a challenge - it’s a chance to see the next wave of talent up close.
Among those heading to the WBC are some of Seattle’s most important contributors. Cal Raleigh will suit up for Team USA.
Julio Rodríguez is repping the Dominican Republic. Josh Naylor will play for Canada, Randy Arozarena for Mexico, and Andrés Muñoz and Gabe Speier will also join Team Mexico and Team USA, respectively.
That’s a big group of core players - and it means the Mariners will need to rely more heavily on prospects and fringe roster guys to carry the load during Cactus League play.
Wilson, speaking Monday from the team’s complex in Peoria, Arizona, made it clear the team came into camp with a plan.
“We’ve done a good job,” he said. “Hats off to the training staff and the high performance group for putting together individualized programs.
You kind of have to tailor them so guys are ready to go. We’ve mapped out games, and I think we feel confident our guys will be ready.”
Seattle leads all MLB clubs in number of players participating in the WBC - but they also boast one of the most exciting farm systems in the league. That’s where the upside comes in. With so many veterans temporarily out of the picture, top prospects like Colt Emerson and Lazaro Montes are going to get real chances to showcase what they can do.
Wilson sees it as a silver lining.
“We’ve got a lot of prospects in our organization who are going to get a chance to be seen and get opportunities in spring training that maybe they wouldn’t have otherwise,” he said. “That’s a really cool thing, and I’m looking forward to that part of it when we start playing games.”
And while the lineup and bullpen will be heavily impacted by WBC participation, the Mariners’ starting rotation might make it through spring without much disruption. Luis Castillo is the only starter with a shot at joining the tournament - he’s in the designated pitcher pool for the Dominican Republic, which means he’d only be added if the team advances beyond pool play. Otherwise, Seattle’s rotation should stay intact and focused in Arizona.
That includes Bryan Woo, who earned his first All-Star nod in 2025 but ended the season battling a pectoral strain that cost him time down the stretch and into the postseason. Woo had an opportunity to pitch for Team USA but opted to stay back and focus on getting fully healthy for the 2026 season.
Wilson backed the decision.
“Obviously you want to leave these decisions up to each guy, and I totally respect either way they go,” he said. “Coming off the injury and with the season going so late, that’s a tough call for a starter. I’m glad he made the choice he did, and I think he’s well on his way to being prepared for this year.”
So yes, the Mariners are going to look a little different this spring. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. With a strong pipeline of young talent and a clear plan in place, Seattle is set up to weather the WBC storm - and maybe even come out stronger on the other side.