South Korean pitcher Go Woo-suk, part of the San Diego Padres’ roster, missed out on securing a spot for the club’s Opening Day matches this week in Seoul, his hometown.
Ahead of the Seoul Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Padres finalized their 26-man roster on Wednesday, omitting the South Korean reliever.
The much-anticipated series, set to kick off at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday at Gocheok Sky Dome, marks a historic moment as the first Major League Baseball (MLB) games to be played in South Korea.
Despite being included in the team’s 31-man traveling squad to Seoul, Go, a 25-year-old right-hander, was optioned to Triple-A El-Paso, depriving him of the opportunity to display his skills before his home crowd.
Consequently, shortstop Kim Ha-seong remains the sole South Korean representative for the Padres in this landmark event.
Go Woo-suk Transition to MLB
Go, who recently inked a two-year contract with the Padres in January, boasts an impressive record, having notched 139 saves during his tenure with the LG Twins from 2019 to 2023, leading all closers in the Korea Baseball Organization.
However, his performance during spring training outings as a Padre raised concerns, with a disappointing 12.46 ERA over five appearances.
Nevertheless, Go stepped onto the mound to face the Twins in an exhibition match on Monday in Seoul. In the ninth inning, he gave up a two-run home run but managed to secure a 5-4 victory.
Speaking with Yonhap News Agency, Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla expressed the team’s commitment to supporting Go as he adjusts to the rigors of Major League Baseball.
Niebla highlighted the challenges Go faced with a shorter offseason compared to his teammates, as his KBO season with the Twins concluded in mid-November, necessitating frequent travel between South Korea and the United States to finalize his contract.
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