"Wooseok, let's lower it by 20%." What do you mean 100% full-fledged pitching? Ko Woo Seok's arrest is "desperate." [Saipan site]

*This content was translated by AI.

"Wooseok, let's lower it by 20%."

Ko Woo-seok (28, Detroit Tigers) and Noh Kyung-eun (42, SSG Landers) started pitching bullpens from the first turn of Saipan's first camp training, where they left to build their bodies.

Coach Kim Kwang-sam was always attached to Ko Woo-seok's side. Unlike Noh Kyung-eun, who throws tactfully, Ko Woo-seok was throwing with all his might. Coach Kim, who was watching, calmed down Ko Woo-seok and told him to throw a little less. However, Ko Woo-seok continued to throw all his strength.

In the third day of the first camp of the national baseball team held at the Oleye Sports Complex in Saipan on the 12th, much attention was paid to the first bullpen pitching of Ko Woo-suk and Noh Kyung-eun.

It's a time that should never be overstated, but Noh Kyung-eun just continued her routine of keeping the ball steady after the end of the season, and Ko Woo-suk did not play many games this season and was quickly improving his physical condition as he took enough rest, so the coaching staff respected their fast pace.

However, the difference between the two was large. Noh Kyung-eun pitched smoothly and even checked the breaking ball. Coach Choi Won-ho, who was watching this, said, "Kyung-eun seems to be less than 80%. "He is a pitcher who knows how to throw tactfully," he said with a happy smile.

Therefore, Ko Woo-seok's pitch was very interesting, but it was also somewhat worrisome. Even with the sound of "Fang" and "Fang" heard from the bullpen catcher's mitts, I could feel that his pitches were 100%.

Noh Kyung-eun, who was pitching next to him, said, "I didn't see the throwing form because I thought my pace could dry up," but added, "But I couldn't even see a very fast ball from the side."

Ko Woo-seok, who met with reporters after training, said, "I'm satisfied that I proceeded well without too much strain on my body. "I went in with the greatest focus on my physical condition," he said. "The season ended faster than other KBO players, and I had more time to rest than other players, so I had enough time to build my body. So I was able to raise the pace the best. Even before the national team's roster came out, I thought I should match it as the best in the spring camp, so I prepared it like this."

Ko Woo-seok, who played as the best closer in the KBO, signed a contract with the San Diego Padres ahead of the 2024 season, but he suffered an injury the previous season and headed to the U.S. with his physical condition not 100%. In the end, he spent his first season without receiving a big league call-up.

Last year, he suffered an unexpected injury during training before the start of the season and played only 32 games and 42 ⅓ innings. In Triple-A, he pitched better than the previous year with 1 win, 3 saves and 2 holds and an ERA of 3.72 in 19 games and 26 ⅔ innings.

Unfortunately, it was the offseason. This time, Ko Woo-seok also made his body quickly. "I've been preparing for the season in the U.S. for two years, so it was big to see how many players were preparing in the spring camp," he said. "The trial game starts quickly and there are games after 10 days when we can train before the camp starts. So at that time, I thought I should throw it in a condition similar to the season as much as possible, so I prepared that way."

Regarding the reason why he threw all-out despite coach Kim Kwang-sam's request, he said, "The coach was worried and said, 'It would be better to lower it by 20% than I thought,' but he was in good shape. I've been preparing with coach Kim Yong-il, so there's no big problem," he said.

"I've seen good players prepare thoroughly. The coach and coaches are worried that it will be too much, but I'm worried that something will be lacking," he said, adding that he wants to make a strong pitch and inspect it in advance.

This time is very precious to Ko Woo-seok. He could have returned to Korea after the end of his two-year contract, but Detroit reached out. The same was true of the national team.

Ko Woo-seok said, "To be honest, there was a visa issue and there were so few samples last season that there was no expectation that the offer would come. I thought I couldn't do it if I didn't have a chance even if I wanted to, he said. "But fortunately, I don't know what I saw in Detroit, but the offer came and I didn't think about any of the conditions and went with a mind that I could have another chance." If you don't have a chance, it's over. I want to do it properly when I have a chance," he said.

The best finish in Korea cannot come back without stepping on the big league stage once. He raised his body faster to restore his honor, and that led to the selection of the national team following his contract with Detroit.

Ko Woo-seok said, "Actually, the national team thought the same thing. Although it has improved compared to last year, I want to go because I threw too little, but I only thought, "I wish I could go," because there was a high possibility that I would not be selected. "It's not confirmed yet, but I will do my best to prepare and support the national team players here even if it's not confirmed." I will pray for a good result (even if I fail the entry)," he said.

I have a painful memory of the 2023 tournament. With the tournament just around the corner, he had to watch the group stage elimination from the bench due to injury. The opportunity to make up for it has come, and his performance in the WBC may be an opportunity to increase his position in the team.

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*This content was translated by AI.