MLB: South Korean closer Go Woo-seok makes U.S. debut after three years

South Korean closer Go Woo-seok finally reached the Major League Baseball stage, making his debut with the Minnesota Twins on July 10. Pitching in relief during the ninth inning of a 2-5 loss to the Cleveland Guardians, Go allowed one run on a solo home run. He faced 10 batters over his one-inning appearance, throwing 18 pitches and recording one strikeout. His fastball was clocked at 95.7 mph (154 km/h), and his debut ERA stands at 9.00.

The 27-year-old pitcher's journey to MLB has been somewhat circuitous. After a successful career as a closer for the LG Twins in the Korea Baseball Organization, Go signed a two-year, $4.5 million contract with the San Diego Padres in 2024. However, his initial two years in affiliated ball saw him move through the systems of three different organizations – the Padres, Marlins, and Tigers – without reaching the major leagues.

Go was also a member of the South Korean national team for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. In a notable game during the tournament, he pitched 1.2 innings of relief against Taiwan, allowing one unearned run and taking the loss. He appeared in three games in that WBC, pitching a total of 3.2 scoreless innings.

His performance in the minor leagues this season showed promise, particularly in Double-A with the Tigers, where he posted a 0.66 ERA over 13.2 innings with 22 strikeouts. He was promoted to Triple-A in May before being traded to the Twins on July 7.