Andrés Muñoz Bio
Andrés Clemente Muñoz Apodaca is a Mexican professional baseball pitcher who has built a reputation as one of the most dominant relief pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on January 16, 1999, Muñoz currently plays for the Seattle Mariners and wears jersey number 75. Known for a blazing four-seam fastball that has consistently ranked among the fastest in baseball, he has quickly risen from international prospect to All-Star closer.
Muñoz made his MLB debut with the San Diego Padres in 2019 before being traded to Seattle in 2020. Across his career, he has been recognized as a two-time All-Star in 2024 and 2025 and was named to the All-MLB Second Team in 2025. His combination of velocity, breaking pitches, and late-inning poise has made him a cornerstone of the Mariners’ bullpen.
Early Life and Background
Andrés Clemente Muñoz Apodaca was born on January 16, 1999, and grew up in a family with deep ties to sports and competition. He was raised by his parents, Alberto and Maria, alongside two older brothers, Helmond and Miguel. The family environment fostered a strong competitive spirit, with several family members contributing to Muñoz’s development as an athlete.
Muñoz was introduced to baseball at the age of 11 by his grandfather, Damazo, who played a formative role in sparking his love for the game. As a teenager, he also competed in track and field, where he met his future wife, Wendy. The discipline and conditioning required for sprint events helped shape his athletic foundation and contributed to the explosive physical profile that later defined his pitching career.
His older brother Helmond, along with Wendy, would eventually provide Muñoz with scouting reports on opposing batters, turning family support into a practical edge on the field. This blend of family encouragement and early athletic immersion laid the groundwork for Muñoz’s transition into organized baseball and his eventual pursuit of a professional career.
Path to Professional Baseball
Muñoz signed with the San Diego Padres as an international free agent on July 7, 2015, receiving a $700,000 signing bonus. The deal marked the beginning of his professional journey and gave him a clear pathway through the Padres’ developmental system. He made his professional debut in 2016 with the Arizona Padres of the Rookie-level Arizona League, going 1–1 with a 5.49 ERA across 16 relief appearances while adjusting to the demands of professional competition.
In 2017, Muñoz moved up the ladder, pitching mostly for the Tri-City Dust Devils of the Class A Short Season Northwest League and finishing the year with three games for the Fort Wayne TinCaps of the Class A Midwest League. He posted a 3–0 record with a 3.81 ERA in 24 relief appearances, recording 38 strikeouts against 18 walks. He also played nine games for the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League, where he was the youngest player in the league.
The 2018 season brought continued progress, as Muñoz started with Tri-City before earning a promotion to the San Antonio Missions of the Double-A Texas League in late June. Across both levels, he compiled a 2–1 record with a 0.73 ERA and 28 strikeouts in just over 24 relief innings, establishing himself as one of the more intriguing relief arms in the Padres’ system.
Andrés Muñoz Career
Early Career (2019)
Muñoz began 2019 with the Amarillo Sod Poodles of the Double-A Texas League, going 0–2 with a 2.16 ERA, 34 strikeouts, and 11 walks over 16 and two-thirds innings. His performance earned a promotion to the El Paso Chihuahuas of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League on May 21, 2019. On July 12, 2019, the Padres selected his contract and promoted him to the major leagues.
That same night, Muñoz made his MLB debut against the Atlanta Braves, striking out one batter and walking one in one inning of work, with his fastball reaching 101.9 miles per hour. He earned his first career MLB save on August 29, 2019, and finished his rookie season with a 1–1 record, 30 strikeouts in 23 innings across 22 games. His four-seam fastball averaged 99.9 miles per hour, the second-fastest in MLB that year.
San Diego to Seattle Transition (2019–2021)
On March 19, 2020, Muñoz underwent Tommy John surgery, causing him to miss the entire 2020 season. On August 30, 2020, the Padres traded Muñoz, Ty France, Taylor Trammell, and Luis Torrens to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for catcher Austin Nola and relievers Dan Altavilla and Austin Adams. He went back on the 60-day injured list in February 2021 to continue his recovery.
After four rehabilitation appearances in the minor leagues, Muñoz returned to make his Mariners debut in the team’s final game of 2021. The trade ultimately gave him a fresh start and a clearer opportunity to re-establish himself as a high-leverage reliever at the major league level.
Seattle Mariners Era (2022–Present)
In 2022, Muñoz returned to a setup role, working alongside closer Paul Sewald. He recorded a 2–5 record with four saves, a 2.45 ERA, and 96 strikeouts in 65 innings, with his fastball averaging 100.2 miles per hour. Muñoz pitched in every Mariners postseason game that year, earning the series-clinching win in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series against the Toronto Blue Jays before struggling in the American League Division Series against the Houston Astros.
Injuries slowed Muñoz at the start of 2023, including a right deltoid strain and shoulder inflammation that kept him out until June 6. After the Mariners traded Paul Sewald at the 2023 trade deadline, Muñoz was elevated into the closer role and performed well, earning American League Reliever of the Month honors for August. He finished 2023 with a 4–7 record, 67 strikeouts in 49 innings, and 13 saves across 52 games.
On December 1, 2021, Muñoz and the Mariners agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $7.5 million, with three additional team options for up to $24 million. In 2024, he was named to the All-Star Game as a replacement for teammate Logan Gilbert, set a franchise record with 12 consecutive hitless appearances from July 5 to August 14, and recorded a career-high 22 saves with a 3–7 record and 2.12 ERA. In 2025, he opened the season with 15 straight scoreless appearances and 11 saves, earning American League Reliever of the Month for March/April and a selection to the 2025 All-Star Game roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Andrés Muñoz is widely regarded as one of the most electric relief arms in baseball, with a four-seam fastball that has consistently averaged near or above 100 miles per hour. His slider has been his most effective secondary pitch, holding opposing batters to a .126 average in 2022. Command has improved significantly since his early professional days, lowering his walk rate to better than the MLB average, which has allowed him to thrive in high-leverage situations as a closer.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Muñoz’s signature achievements are his 2024 All-Star selection, his franchise-record streak of 12 consecutive hitless appearances, and his role in the Mariners’ 2022 postseason run that included a series-clinching win against the Toronto Blue Jays. He has earned American League Reliever of the Month honors in both 2023 and 2025, underscoring his consistency as one of the league’s premier late-inning relievers.
Andrés Muñoz Career Wins
Across his MLB career with the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners, Andrés Muñoz has compiled a verified win–loss record of 13–23 with 78 saves and 354 strikeouts through the 2025 season, paired with a 2.43 earned run average. While his save totals are the clearest measure of his bullpen success, his career has also been defined by All-Star recognition and monthly award honors.
MLB Highlights
Muñoz earned his first career MLB save on August 29, 2019, against the San Francisco Giants. His most recent milestone came in 2025, when he opened the year with 15 straight scoreless appearances, including 11 saves, and was named to his second consecutive All-Star Game. He has been recognized as the American League Reliever of the Month in both August 2023 and March/April 2025.
Other Performances
In addition to his MLB work, Muñoz gained valuable experience in the Arizona Fall League with the Peoria Javelinas, where he was the youngest player in the league. His minor league stops, including time with the Tri-City Dust Devils, Fort Wayne TinCaps, San Antonio Missions, Amarillo Sod Poodles, and El Paso Chihuahuas, helped develop the foundation for his major league success.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| MLB Career (through 2025) | 13 | 78 saves | N/A |
Andrés Muñoz Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Andrés Muñoz was raised in a close-knit family that has played a central role in his baseball development. His parents, Alberto and Maria, supported his early athletic pursuits, while his grandfather, Damazo, introduced him to baseball at the age of 11. His older brother Helmond, along with his wife Wendy, has been actively involved in his preparation, providing scouting reports on opposing batters. He also has a second older brother, Miguel.
Personal Life
Andrés Muñoz married his wife, Wendy, in July 2022 during the MLB All-Star break. The couple first met as teenagers while competing together in track and field, a connection that has carried into their shared life around baseball. They have a pet cat named Matilda, who often joins them on road trips. Muñoz is of Mexican nationality and has built his professional life around the demands of a Major League Baseball schedule.
2025 Season Performance
Andrés Muñoz has been a driving force in the Seattle Mariners’ 2025 bullpen, opening the campaign with 15 consecutive scoreless appearances and converting 11 saves during that stretch. His dominance at the back end of games earned him the American League Reliever of the Month award for March and April, reinforcing his standing as one of the most reliable closers in the American League.
His excellence throughout the first half of the season translated into a selection to the 2025 All-Star Game roster, his second consecutive Midsummer Classic appearance. He has continued to pair his trademark fastball velocity with an effective breaking ball, maintaining the command improvements that have defined his post-injury career.
With the Mariners contending in the American League and Muñoz locked into the closer role, his 2025 performance has positioned him as a central figure in the team’s postseason outlook. His consistency, durability, and high-leverage execution have made him a foundational piece of Seattle’s bullpen and one of the most prominent relief pitchers in Major League Baseball.