Go Woo-suk's free agency likely opens the door for him to rejoin his former KBO club, the LG Twins, though he would not be eligible to pitch for them in the postseason.
Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Go Woo-suk throws to the Cleveland Guardians in the ninth inning in his MLB debut at Target Field in Minneapolis on July 9.REUTERS/YONHAP
Korean pitcher Go Woo-suk has become a free agent after refusing an outright assignment to the minor leagues by the Minnesota Twins.
The Twins announced on Monday that Go elected free agency instead of accepting another stint with their Triple-A club, the St. Paul Saints.
The Twins had designated Go for assignment on Friday. Once a player is designated for assignment, he can be traded or placed on irrevocable waivers within seven days. If the player clears waivers — that is, if no team picks him — then he may be sent outright to the minors or released, becoming a free agent.
With the annual trade deadline already gone, Go waited to see if any team would pick him off waivers. After no team did, the Twins sought to send the Korean pitcher back to St. Paul.
However, a player who has previously been outrighted in his career has the right to refuse a minor league assignment and immediately become a free agent.
Go, who was designated for assignment by the Miami Marlins in May 2024, exercised that right.
His free agency likely opens the door for him to rejoin his former KBO club, the LG Twins.
Go pitched for them from 2017 to 2023. He became their full-time closer in 2019, and over the next five seasons, he compiled 139 saves, more than any other KBO closer during that stretch.
He signed with the San Diego Padres in January 2024 but bounced around multiple organizations before finally making his MLB debut with the Minnesota Twins on July 9.
Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Go Woo-suk throws to the Chicago Cubs during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Chicago on July 19.AP/YONHAP
He lasted just four games with Minnesota, pitching to a 9.00 ERA in four innings after allowing four runs on eight hits, including two home runs. He was sent to St. Paul after serving up three runs on four hits in one inning on July 20.
Four days later, in what would have been his Saints debut, Go was ejected for having an illegal substance in his glove. He was initially suspended for 10 games but had the punishment reduced to eight games following an appeal.
After his suspension ended, Go posted a 12.54 ERA across eight outings, with 13 earned runs allowed on nine hits and 11 walks in just 9 1/3 innings.
The LG Twins, the 2025 Korean Series champions, are in the thick of a postseason battle, currently occupying fourth place with a win-loss-tie record of 64-51-1.
Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Go Woo-suk delivers to Los Angeles Angels second baseman Vaughn Grissom in the eighth inning at Target Field in Minneapolis on July 12.REUTERS/YONHAP
Their pitching staff has been decimated by injuries all season. They rank seventh among 10 KBO teams with a 4.92 ERA, and their relievers have the fifth-best ERA at 5.16.
You Young-chan, who succeeded Go as the closer in 2024, underwent a season-ending elbow surgery in April. It forced the Twins to convert starting pitcher Son Ju-young to closer.
They have also cycled through several setup men, and veteran Kim Jin-sung is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury.
While Go would provide an immediate jolt to the Twins’ bullpen, he would not be eligible to pitch for them in the postseason. Players must be on an active roster by July 31 to compete in postseason games.
