If LG returns, it will win 'Again' → billion won in salary guarantees... "I'm in my third year as a minor." I didn't regret it. "Life in the U.S. wasn't hard."

*This content was translated by AI.

Ko Woo-seok (28, Tolido Mudhans), who is again trying to challenge for the Major League (ML), left Korea with a smile.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) included Ko Woo-suk and Kim Hye-sung (LA Dodgers) among the 30 preliminary entries for the 2026 WBC national team led by head coach Ryu Ji-hyun. Those who left Incheon International Airport on the 9th will train in Saipan from the 10th to the 21st before returning to their teams. He will then rejoin the second camp in Okinawa, Japan, from February 15 to 28.

Ko Woo-seok, who met with reporters before leaving the country, said, "It's awkward because it's been such a long time since I've had such an. "I'm in good shape now and my injury last year has been completely healed," he said. "Last year, I wasn't in the Major League and I had a small sample, but I think the coach liked it. I'm grateful for that," he said. "It's not confirmed to go to the WBC, but I always feel the same way for the national team. I have always dreamed of wearing the national team uniform since the beginning of Agu, so I want to do my best," he said with strength.

He was unable to participate in the 2023 WBC due to injury. Ko Woo-seok said, "I think I want to prepare properly without injury this time. Even after leaving LG, I've been working out in Jamsil, and data has been accumulated whether it's good or not. It was better to be able to write the wrong answer notes," he said.

This year, he has already been in the minor league for three years. Ko Woo-suk led the LG Twins to their first unified championship in 29 years in 2023 and qualified for posting. He signed a two-plus-one-year, up to $9.4 million contract with the San Diego Padres and finally succeeded in entering the U.S. However, the road to making a big league debut was farther than I thought. He was eliminated from San Diego's opening roster for the 2024 season and also struggled in Double-A. In May of that year, he was traded to the Miami Marlins in exchange for Luis Arraez, a former batting king of the Major League.

I didn't see the light in Miami either. Shortly after that, Ko Woo-seok was designated for assignment (DFA) and was announced on waivers, but no one looked for him. At this time, Ko Woo-seok was able to return to LG. However, he signed a minor league contract with Miami again and opted for a challenge in 2025.

I prepared for the season of desperation, but this time the injury was a problem. He suffered a finger fracture during shadow training at the spring camp ahead of the 2025 season and failed to compete on the opening roster. He didn't give up there and returned to the team, showing his indomitable will to go through the minor leagues from Rookie League to Triple-A. But the result was another release.

At this time, the Detroit Tigers reached out to Ko Woo-seok. Fortunately, Detroit did not get along badly with Ko Woo-suk. Ko played well in Detroit for the rest of the season without any injuries. Toledo also had a 4.29 ERA in 14 games in Triple-A, 11 walks and 22 strikeouts in 21 innings, and got a chance once again. Ko Woo-seok signed a minor league contract with Detroit on the 16th of last month, continuing his Major League challenge for the third year.

Ko Woo-seok said, "It's not a really easy environment. "It's a lie that I wasn't prepared to have a hard time, and it's a lie to say that I was prepared for it," he said. At the same time, "As I watched the process of players going up to the Major League and becoming famous players, I thought I could follow them if I did that. Even so, I think it will be helpful someday if you remember what you experienced and felt here later," he stressed.

If he remained in Korea, chances are high that he would have won another Korean series and guaranteed an annual salary of 100 million won. However, Ko Woo-seok did not regret that. "That's why the past two years have not been very painful and difficult, as others say," he said. "From the beginning of baseball, I thought I wanted to go to the Major League once. That's why I think I can challenge myself now," he said with a smile.

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*This content was translated by AI.