South Korean right-handed pitcher Go Woo-suk, determined to make his Major League Baseball debut, delivered another impressive performance in the minor leagues. Pitching for the Detroit Tigers’ Triple-A affiliate, the Toledo Mud Hens, Go threw two scoreless innings against the Omaha Storm Chasers (Kansas City Royals affiliate) on May 13 (Korean time) at Werner Park in Papillion, Nebraska.
Entering the game in the bottom of the eighth inning with his team holding a commanding 18-1 lead, Go quickly retired the side in order, striking out two batters. He returned to the mound for the ninth inning, allowing a single to Gavin Cross with two outs before inducing a groundout from Kevin Newman to end the game. His final line: 2 innings pitched, 1 hit, 3 strikeouts, 0 walks, and 0 earned runs.
The Mud Hens cruised to a 19-1 victory, pounding out 19 hits including four home runs. Go Woo-suk has now recorded back-to-back scoreless outings since being promoted from Double-A Erie on May 9. Overall this season, the 28-year-old has appeared in 12 minor league games between Double-A and Triple-A, posting a 1.80 ERA with two saves. Opponents are hitting just .118 against him, and his WHIP stands at an elite 0.80.
Go Woo-suk originally signed a 2+1 year contract worth up to $9.4 million with the San Diego Padres in 2023 after leading the LG Twins to a Korean Series championship. However, he has yet to realize his dream of pitching in the big leagues, having endured trades and releases. Despite recently receiving an offer from his former KBO club LG to return as their closer, Go reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing an MLB opportunity and opted to remain in the United States.
With his strong performance in Triple-A, the right-hander is building a compelling case for a potential call-up to Detroit, which currently sits at 19-23, tied for third in the AL Central.
