Houston.- Andrés Muñoz never imagined that meeting Aroldis Chapman, one of the most feared closures of the last decade, would mark a turning point in his career. He admired him from afar for his power in the hill, for that imposing line and the serenity with which he faced the pressure of the ninth inning. Today, becoming the Seattle sailor closer, Muñoz acknowledges that this link with the Cuban pitcher has been key to his professional evolution.
“I think the main one for me is Aroldis Chapman. I always looked at him and I always admired him. So, really, he could have known him and all that, and share with him, the truth is very nice to me. And it is someone who I have always looked Las Américas Diariowho is the bolt he looks at to continue rising in that art of preserving advantages.
But Chapman’s influence is not limited to admiration. The Seattle sailor closure has had the opportunity to talk directly with him and absorb valuable lessons on how to handle the highest situations in baseball.
“Well, there are many things. I looked at how the pressure handles. In fact, I even asked him. I have learned many things from him and I have had the opportunity to talk with him several times of that,” he explains, who is now the leader of salvages of the season, with 16 on 18 opportunities and maintains his immaculate effectiveness.
The art of closing games
Muñoz’s transition to the closing role began last season, after the star game break, but today we look like a veteran in that role.
“It was last year, after the second half, they started putting a little in the closing roles. Obviously, it changes a little how situations are and how is the pressure, but little by little we have been learning and we will continue learning,” he says.
And although the way has been full of new challenges, Muñoz maintains a constant learning attitude and listens to anyone who can give him advice to better execute his work.
“As much as things go well, one will continue to learn from everything and we try to do the best every time we go there,” added who barely rescued 16 games in his walk through the minor leagues, but has taken advantage of the opportunity and make the transition to shine at the decline of the games.
The confidence to assume that new role came from the technical staff of the sailors and he corresponds to the order.
“I believe that all the coaches here, all the coaches. The manager we had, Scott Servais, had a lot of confidence in me. The truth was the ones who least had the opportunity and I am very grateful to them because if not, they had not given me the chance.”
Muñoz also highlights one of the most positive aspects of the new position: the certainty of knowing when to launch. “I think the easiest thing is to know when you are going to throw. I think that is the best for a relay. Many times one does not know what situation will come in when you are an intermediate relay. Something fast happens in the game and one has to be ready there. I think that knowing the situation in which you are going to enter and when you are going to enter it is a very good relief.”
On his mentality, Muñoz is clear: a specific objective was never set as a closer, but he was always willing to assume any responsibility for the team. “I was always and I still say the same thing. I’m going to be when the team needs me. I don’t feel like I want to be a closer. Simply, when the team would need me to be there and I was going to do my best.”
Andrés Muñoz’s story continues to write. But behind its success in the ninth inning, there is a clear influence: that of a pitcher who already left a mark on baseball, and now inspires the next generation.
