Expectations rise with Ko Woo-seok's return as LG's Son Joo-young says he feels reassured
Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
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- LG Twins reliever Son Joo-young helped secure a 5-1 win over the Doosan Bears with a scoreless ninth inning, giving LG its third straight victory.
- Ko Woo-seok, who returned from the United States after limited MLB appearances, signed a one-year, 500 million won contract with LG and is expected to handle key middle-inning duties.
- LG remained third in the standings, two games ahead of KIA, while Son said Ko's return had encouraged the team to look higher than simply protecting its position.
LG Twins closer Son Joo-young had a simple message for Ko Woo-seok after the reliever returned from the United States: “You worked hard, and now let’s do well.”
Son delivered his part on the mound first. He pitched the ninth inning against the Doosan Bears at Seoul's Jamsil Baseball Stadium, allowing no hits or walks and striking out one in LG's 5-1 victory. Although the game was not a save situation, LG used him to finish the game cleanly. The win extended LG's winning streak to three games.
You worked hard, and now let’s do well.
Son said he felt fine after pitching in consecutive games. “My condition isn’t bad. I had plenty of rest in the second half, so I don’t feel tired, and I’m still fine,” he said. He also said treatment at a traditional medicine clinic had left him with no problems.
My condition isn’t bad. I had plenty of rest in the second half, so I don’t feel tired, and I’m still fine.
Ko's return has become one of the biggest topics in Korean baseball. After the 2023 season, he signed with the San Diego Padres through the posting system and moved to the United States. He finally made his major-league debut with the Minnesota Twins in July, but appeared in only four MLB games, recording one hold and a 9.00 earned-run average. Minnesota later designated him for release, and after receiving no offer from another club, Ko chose free agency when his status moved to the minor leagues.
Ko returned to LG on a one-year contract worth 500 million won. Because he joined during the season, he will receive only three months of the annual salary, or 150 million won. He is due to join the team on the following day. LG plans to use him as a key middle reliever capable of covering two innings, while Son will remain the closer. “He has experience in Major League Baseball, and he’s also my teammate and friend,” Son said. “It’s definitely reassuring. If he shuts things down in front of me, I can prepare more comfortably.”
He has experience in Major League Baseball, and he’s also my teammate and friend. It’s definitely reassuring. If he shuts things down in front of me, I can prepare more comfortably.
LG's win moved it two games ahead of fourth-place KIA and four games ahead of fifth-place Doosan. The team trailed first-place Samsung by 5.5 games and second-place KT by five, but Son said LG was not giving up on the top of the standings. “Originally, our goal was to hold on to third place, but with Woo-seok coming, we’re looking upward. We haven’t let go of hope yet,” he said.
Originally, our goal was to hold on to third place, but with Woo-seok coming, we’re looking upward. We haven’t let go of hope yet.
About this summary
Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.
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