Ko Woo-seok pitches two perfect innings after suspension reduction

Ko Woo-seok, a relief pitcher for the Minnesota Twins' Triple-A team, the St. Paul Saints, delivered a flawless two-inning performance in his second outing since his suspension was shortened. He retired all six batters he faced without allowing a hit or a walk, demonstrating strong form on the mound.

During his appearance against the Louisville Bats, the Cincinnati Reds' Triple-A affiliate, Ko threw 27 pitches. He efficiently ended the eighth inning by inducing a ground ball and then striking out two batters, including one with a fastball recorded at 153 km/h. He continued his dominance in the ninth inning, achieving a three-up, three-down sequence to close out the game.

This strong performance comes after Ko's suspension for using a foreign substance on his glove was reduced from 10 games to eight following an appeal. He had initially been suspended by MLB after his glove was found to contain an illegal substance during a game on July 25. The appeal, processed through the players' union, led to the reduced ban.

Ko Woo-seok, who declared his intention to pursue a Major League Baseball career after the 2023 season, made his MLB debut this year with the Twins after being traded from the Detroit Tigers. In four MLB appearances, he pitched four innings, recorded one hold, and allowed four runs for an ERA of 9.00 before being optioned back to Triple-A on July 21. His recent success in Triple-A marks a positive step in his return to the field.