Andres Munoz

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Seattle Mariners #11 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: The Padres purchased Munoz’s rights for $700,000 from the Mexican League in 2015 and watched as he blossomed into one of the hardest-throwing pitchers in baseball. He touched 102 mph by the time he was 19 and reached the majors at 20 before succumbing to Tommy John surgery early in 2020. The Mariners acquired Munoz in the trade for catcher Austin Nola, and Munoz returned to make his Mariners debut on the final day of the 2021 season.
  
  Scouting Report: Munoz returned from injury with his stuff intact. His fastball sits 99-100 mph and touches 102 with explosive riding life at the top of the zone and late armside movement in the lower quadrants. It’s a true 80-grade fastball he dominates with and throws more than two thirds of the time. Munoz’s tight, 81-83 mph slider flashes above-average when he locates it, but it is often a ball out of his hand. He has below-average control overall and is prone to spinning out of his delivery. Munoz still has to prove he’s durable enough to last a full season. He has topped 30 innings only once in six years.
  
  The Future: Munoz is ready to move into a setup role for the Mariners in 2022. He could be a closer if he stays healthy.
  
• 
  Ranked Seattle Mariners #10 prospect in 2021
  Fastball: 80. Slider: 55. Control: 40.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The Padres purchased Muñoz’s rights from the Mexican League for $700,000 in 2015. He quickly grew into one of the hardest throwers in baseball. He made his big league debut as a 20-year-old and struck out 30 of the 97 batters he faced in relief, but his 2020 season was wiped out by Tommy John surgery. The Mariners acquired him with Taylor Trammell, Ty France and Luis Torrens in the deadline trade that sent Austin Nola to San Diego.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Muñoz’s top-of-the-scale fastball and an above-average slider allow him to project as a late-innings weapon if he refines his control. Prior to the injury, his four-seamer sat 99-100 mph and touched 103 with explosive life that allowed the pitch to play up even further. He can elevate it to miss bats or spot it on either corner. His mid-80s slider needs consistency, but at its best the pitch generates swings and misses with short, late glove-side cut. Muñoz’s control is below-average, but most concerning is his injury history. He battled elbow issues for years before surgery and has thrown more than 26 innings only once in five seasons.
  
  THE FUTURE: Muñoz is set to complete his rehab in mid 2021 and could join Seattle’s bullpen late in the season. He has the potential to become the Mariners’ closer.
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #7 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: The Padres purchased Muñoz's rights for $700,000 from the Mexican League's Mexico City franchise when he was 16. He rapidly added velocity as he filled out and touched 100 mph for the first time the following season. He reached 103 as a closer at Double-A in 2018 and made his major league debut at age 20 last year, where he struck out 30 of the 97 batters he faced.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Munoz is the embodiment of a power reliever. His fastball sits 99-100 mph and touches 103, and it plays up with explosive late life. He can elevate his fastball for swings and misses or spot it on the corners, making it a true 80-grade pitch. Munoz is still working to find consistency with his average slider. At it's best it features short, late life at 86-87 mph and rolls off the barrel of righthanded hitters. Munoz's high-effort delivery makes it difficult for him to stay on line to the plate and results in below-average control. He's also pitched more than 30 innings only once in four seasons and has already had a platelet-rich plasma injection in his elbow.
  
  THE FUTURE: Muñoz has closer stuff, but his health and control are question marks. He'll open 2020 back in the Padres' bullpen.
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #17 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: The Padres made Munoz their top international signing in 2015 for $700,000. A quick-armed teenager who sat 88-92 mph when he signed at age 16, Munoz jumped up to 95 mph at 17, began touching 100 at 18 and then established himself as one of the hardest-throwing pitchers in the sport by 19. A platelet-rich plasma injection delayed Munoz's start, but he went out to Double-A in June and saved seven games in eight tries, averaging nearly 100 mph on his fastball and frequently reaching 103.
  
  Scouting Report: Munoz's fastball leaves batters quivering and scouts salivating. It is a true 80-grade pitch with elite velocity and riding life, getting swings and misses even when hitters know it's coming. Munoz expertly climbs the ladder with his fastball, and gets whiffs from both lefties and righties. Munoz's lone secondary pitch is a mid-80s slider that flashes average but is inconsistent, though it plays up with batters geared for his fastball. Munoz's velocity is exciting, but his health and below-average control are concerning. He's yet to pitch more than 26 innings in a season, and his 4.7 walks-per-nine in 2018 were a career-best.
  
  The Future: Munoz has closer potential, but he has to stay healthy and tighten his control. If he does, his major league debut could come in 2019 at age 20.
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #19 prospect in 2018
  The Padres signed Munoz from the Mexico City of the Mexican League for $700,000 in 2015, their top signing from that international period. The quick-armed righthander sat 88-92 mph when he signed, touched 95 the following spring and hasn't stopped adding velocity. Munoz has grown into one of the hardest throwers in the minors, sitting 97-99 mph and touching 101 as an 18-year-old at low Class A Fort Wayne in 2017. He was the youngest player sent to the Arizona Fall League and allowed only one run while striking out 11 in 8.2 innings of relief. Munoz's fastball is close to an 80-grade pitch with its velocity and tremendous carry, and he excels pitching upstairs. He struggled badly to control it during the regular season, issuing 6.2 walks-per-nine innings, but made strides staying on line to the plate and throwing it for strikes in the fall. Munoz also fine-tuned his 84-86 mph slider, which shows good shape and he turns at the right time to flash average. Evaluators love Munoz's stuff but not his arm action and are concerned with how much stress it puts on his shoulder. If Munoz can stay healthy and maintain his strides with his control, he has closer potential.

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: The Padres purchased Munoz’s rights for $700,000 from the Mexican League in 2015 and watched as he blossomed into one of the hardest-throwing pitchers in baseball. He touched 102 mph by the time he was 19 and reached the majors at 20 before succumbing to Tommy John surgery early in 2020. The Mariners acquired Munoz in the trade for catcher Austin Nola, and Munoz returned to make his Mariners debut on the final day of the 2021 season.
  
  Scouting Report: Munoz returned from injury with his stuff intact. His fastball sits 99-100 mph and touches 102 with explosive riding life at the top of the zone and late armside movement in the lower quadrants. It’s a true 80-grade fastball he dominates with and throws more than two thirds of the time. Munoz’s tight, 81-83 mph slider flashes above-average when he locates it, but it is often a ball out of his hand. He has below-average control overall and is prone to spinning out of his delivery. Munoz still has to prove he’s durable enough to last a full season. He has topped 30 innings only once in six years.
  
  The Future: Munoz is ready to move into a setup role for the Mariners in 2022. He could be a closer if he stays healthy.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 80. Slider: 55. Control: 40.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The Padres purchased Muñoz's rights from the Mexican League for $700,000 in 2015. He quickly grew into one of the hardest throwers in baseball. He made his big league debut as a 20-year-old and struck out 30 of the 97 batters he faced in relief, but his 2020 season was wiped out by Tommy John surgery. The Mariners acquired him with Taylor Trammell, Ty France and Luis Torrens in the deadline trade that sent Austin Nola to San Diego.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Muñoz's top-of-the-scale fastball and an above-average slider allow him to project as a late-innings weapon if he refines his control. Prior to the injury, his four-seamer sat 99-100 mph and touched 103 with explosive life that allowed the pitch to play up even further. He can elevate it to miss bats or spot it on either corner. His mid-80s slider needs consistency, but at its best the pitch generates swings and misses with short, late glove-side cut. Muñoz's control is below-average, but most concerning is his injury history. He battled elbow issues for years before surgery and has thrown more than 26 innings only once in five seasons.
  
  THE FUTURE: Muñoz is set to complete his rehab in mid 2021 and could join Seattle's bullpen late in the season. He has the potential to become the Mariners' closer.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 80. Slider: 55. Control: 40.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The Padres purchased Muñoz’s rights from the Mexican League for $700,000 in 2015. He quickly grew into one of the hardest throwers in baseball. He made his big league debut as a 20-year-old and struck out 30 of the 97 batters he faced in relief, but his 2020 season was wiped out by Tommy John surgery. The Mariners acquired him with Taylor Trammell, Ty France and Luis Torrens in the deadline trade that sent Austin Nola to San Diego.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Muñoz’s top-of-the-scale fastball and an above-average slider allow him to project as a late-innings weapon if he refines his control. Prior to the injury, his four-seamer sat 99-100 mph and touched 103 with explosive life that allowed the pitch to play up even further. He can elevate it to miss bats or spot it on either corner. His mid-80s slider needs consistency, but at its best the pitch generates swings and misses with short, late glove-side cut. Muñoz’s control is below-average, but most concerning is his injury history. He battled elbow issues for years before surgery and has thrown more than 26 innings only once in five seasons.
  
  THE FUTURE: Muñoz is set to complete his rehab in mid 2021 and could join Seattle’s bullpen late in the season. He has the potential to become the Mariners’ closer.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 80. Slider: 55. Control: 40.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The Padres purchased Muñoz’s rights from the Mexican League for $700,000 in 2015. He quickly grew into one of the hardest throwers in baseball. He made his big league debut as a 20-year-old and struck out 30 of the 97 batters he faced in relief, but his 2020 season was wiped out by Tommy John surgery. The Mariners acquired him with Taylor Trammell, Ty France and Luis Torrens in the deadline trade that sent Austin Nola to San Diego.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Muñoz’s top-of-the-scale fastball and an above-average slider allow him to project as a late-innings weapon if he refines his control. Prior to the injury, his four-seamer sat 99-100 mph and touched 103 with explosive life that allowed the pitch to play up even further. He can elevate it to miss bats or spot it on either corner. His mid-80s slider needs consistency, but at its best the pitch generates swings and misses with short, late glove-side cut. Muñoz’s control is below-average, but most concerning is his injury history. He battled elbow issues for years before surgery and has thrown more than 26 innings only once in five seasons.
  
  THE FUTURE: Muñoz is set to complete his rehab in mid 2021 and could join Seattle’s bullpen late in the season. He has the potential to become the Mariners’ closer.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Padres purchased Muñoz’s rights for $700,000 from the Mexican League’s Mexico City franchise when he was 16. He rapidly added velocity as he filled out and touched 100 mph for the first time the following season, beginning an ascent to of the hardest-throwing prospects in the game. He reached 103 as a closer at Double-A in 2018 and made his major league debut at age 20 last year, where he struck out 30 of the 97 batters he faced.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Munoz is the embodiment of a power reliever. His fastball sits 99-100 mph and touches 103, and it plays up with explosive late life. He can elevate his fastball for swings and misses or spot it on the corners, making it a true 80-grade pitch. Munoz is still working to find consistency with his average slider. At it’s best it features short, late life at 86-87 mph and rolls off the barrel of righthanded hitters. Munoz’s high-effort delivery makes it difficult for him to stay on line to the plate and results in below-average control. He’s also pitched more than 30 innings only once in four seasons and has already had a platelet-rich plasma injection in his elbow.
  
  THE FUTURE: Muñoz has closer stuff, but his health and control are question marks. He’ll open 2020 where he ended 2019: in the Padres’ bullpen.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Padres purchased Muñoz's rights for $700,000 from the Mexican League's Mexico City franchise when he was 16. He rapidly added velocity as he filled out and touched 100 mph for the first time the following season. He reached 103 as a closer at Double-A in 2018 and made his major league debut at age 20 last year, where he struck out 30 of the 97 batters he faced.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Munoz is the embodiment of a power reliever. His fastball sits 99-100 mph and touches 103, and it plays up with explosive late life. He can elevate his fastball for swings and misses or spot it on the corners, making it a true 80-grade pitch. Munoz is still working to find consistency with his average slider. At it's best it features short, late life at 86-87 mph and rolls off the barrel of righthanded hitters. Munoz's high-effort delivery makes it difficult for him to stay on line to the plate and results in below-average control. He's also pitched more than 30 innings only once in four seasons and has already had a platelet-rich plasma injection in his elbow.
  
  THE FUTURE: Muñoz has closer stuff, but his health and control are question marks. He'll open 2020 back in the Padres' bullpen.