South Korean pitcher Ko Woo-seok demoted to Triple-A after MLB struggles

Minnesota Twins pitcher Ko Woo-seok has been sent down to Triple-A after a difficult start to his Major League Baseball career. The South Korean right-hander was demoted following four appearances in which he struggled significantly, accumulating a 9.00 earned run average.

In his brief stint in the majors, Ko pitched a total of four innings, giving up four runs on eight hits, including two home runs. His struggles were particularly evident in his most recent outing against the Cleveland Guardians, where he allowed three runs on four extra-base hits in just one inning of work. His overall batting average against this season stands at a high .400, with a WHIP of 2.50.

Ko, who previously served as a closer for the LG Twins in the Korea Baseball Organization, joined the San Diego Padres in 2024 on a two-year deal. However, his journey to the major leagues has been challenging, with previous stints in the minor league systems of the Padres, Marlins, and Tigers before being traded to the Twins.

Adding to his recent difficulties, Ko was also part of the South Korean national team for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. He took the loss in a game against Taiwan, allowing one unearned run in 1.2 innings of relief. Despite these setbacks, Ko's fastball has been clocked at up to 96.2 mph (154.8 km/h).