Mariners All-Star Reflects on Playoff Heartbreak

Pitcher Bryan Woo opens up about Seattle's 2025 ALCS loss and the team's World Series aspirations.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Seattle Mariners star pitcher Bryan Woo recently reflected on the team's heartbreaking loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2025 American League Championship Series. Despite Woo's impressive individual season, which included an All-Star selection and a top-5 Cy Young finish, the Mariners fell just short of their first-ever World Series appearance.

Why it matters

The Mariners have never won a World Series or even appeared in the Fall Classic, making their 2025 ALCS defeat all the more painful for the franchise and its fans. Woo's candid comments highlight the team's determination to finally break through and capture that elusive championship.

The details

Woo, who posted a 2.94 ERA with 198 strikeouts in 186.2 innings in 2025, acknowledged the personal accolades but emphasized the team's ultimate goal of winning the World Series. The Mariners' talented rotation, led by Woo, Logan Gilbert, Luis Castillo, George Kirby, and Bryce Miller, is expected to be a key factor in the team's 2026 campaign as they seek to finally reach the World Series for the first time in franchise history.

  • The Seattle Mariners fell just short of reaching the World Series in 2025, losing to the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Championship Series.
  • Bryan Woo recently reflected on the Mariners' 2025 playoff heartbreak in an interview with MLB Network.

The players

Bryan Woo

A star pitcher for the Seattle Mariners who finished fifth in AL Cy Young voting in 2025 and was selected to his first All-Star team.

Seattle Mariners

A Major League Baseball team that has never won a World Series or even appeared in the Fall Classic, despite having a talented roster led by Woo and other young stars.

Toronto Blue Jays

The team that defeated the Mariners in the 2025 American League Championship Series, denying Seattle its first-ever World Series appearance.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I mean, exciting. Learned a lot, obviously. But came up short of our ultimate goal, you know? … You can have all the great individual accolades that you want, but as a team that's (winning the World Series) what you're really after.”

— Bryan Woo, Mariners Pitcher (MLB Network)

What’s next

The Mariners are expected to be one of the top contenders in the American League in 2026, with their talented pitching rotation led by Woo as they seek to finally reach the World Series for the first time in franchise history.

The takeaway

Despite Woo's impressive individual season, the Mariners' inability to reach the World Series in 2025 has only fueled the team's determination to break through and capture that elusive championship. The 2026 season represents a prime opportunity for Seattle to finally achieve its ultimate goal and bring the city its first-ever World Series title.