In a electrifying showdown at Yankee Stadium on Thursday night, Seattle Mariners’ starting pitcher Bryan Woo came tantalizingly close to etching his name into baseball history. The 25-year-old All-Star right-hander delivered a masterful performance, holding the New York Yankees hitless through seven innings before his no-hitter bid unraveled in the eighth. Despite the near-miss, the Mariners celebrated their ace’s brilliance with a cheeky five-word tribute on their official X account: “What a night for Woo.” The post went viral, leaving Yankees fans reeling and baseball enthusiasts buzzing.
Woo’s outing was nothing short of spectacular. He opened the game by walking Jasson Domínguez and Trent Grisham but quickly found his rhythm, retiring an astonishing 20 consecutive batters. With five strikeouts and just two walks over 7.1 innings, Woo was in complete control, exiting after 92 pitches with his first hit allowed and two earned runs. At the time, Seattle held a commanding 5-0 lead, a testament to Woo’s dominance and the team’s offensive support.
A no-hitter would have marked the seventh in Mariners’ franchise history, with the most recent being James Paxton’s gem in Toronto on May 8, 2018. For the Yankees, it would’ve been their eighth time being no-hit, the last occurring on June 25, 2022, when Houston’s Cristian Javier, Hector Neris, and Ryan Pressly combined to blank them. Woo’s performance, though falling just short, added another chapter to his growing legend.
This wasn’t Woo’s first dance with history. On September 11, 2023, he carried a perfect game into the seventh inning against San Diego before losing it. Earlier that year, he flirted with a no-hitter at Yankee Stadium, throwing 5.1 hitless innings before Gleyber Torres singled, in a game that marked Woo’s first Major League win. These close calls only underscore his knack for high-stakes moments.
Woo’s 2025 season has been a breakout campaign, cementing his status as one of baseball’s rising stars. Ranking 13th in ERA, sixth in WHIP, and 11th in opposing batting average, he’s been a cornerstone of Seattle’s rotation. His journey from a 2023 rookie season (4–5, 4.21 ERA) to a 2024 standout (9–3, 2.89 ERA) despite injury setbacks—elbow inflammation and a hamstring issue—shows his resilience. Drafted in the sixth round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Cal Poly, where he posted a 6.49 ERA and underwent Tommy John surgery, Woo’s ascent through the minors in 2022 and the Arizona Fall League has been nothing short of remarkable.
The Mariners’ viral X post wasn’t just a nod to Woo’s brilliance—it was a playful jab that echoed across social media, sparking reactions from fans and foes alike. For Yankees supporters, it was a bitter pill, as their team was outshined by a pitcher who nearly made history. For Seattle, it was a moment to celebrate a young ace who’s proving he belongs among the game’s elite. Bryan Woo’s night may not have ended with a no-hitter, but it left an indelible mark on the 2025 season—and the internet.