'LG's Desired' Ko Woo-seok, 2 Consecutive Saves → 'ERA 0.66'... Will the 'MLB Dream' Continue?

*This content was translated by AI.

While LG Twins desperately want him, Ko Woo-seok (28) quietly pursues his own path while dreaming of promotion to Major League Baseball (MLB).

Playing for the Erie SeaWolves, a Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, Ko Woo-seok appeared in the top of the 9th inning at UPMC Park on the 4th (Korean time) against the Chesapeake Baysox in a home game. He threw 9 pitches over one inning, recording two strikeouts in a scoreless performance to secure a 4-3 victory for his team.

With his second save of the season (1 loss), Ko Woo-seok's Double-A ERA dropped from 0.71 to 0.66.

Ko Woo-seok struck out the first batter, Aaron Estrada, with a low pitch on three pitches. He then faced the next batter, Frederic Vencosme, again with a difficult low pitch. Vencosme eventually fouled off a tip and struck out with a 2-2 count. Adam Letzback swung aggressively at a low pitch inside on the first pitch, but the ball was caught as a fly out to right field, allowing Ko to finish the game with a clean outing.

Starting in Triple-A and moving to Double-A in just two games, Ko Woo-seok had a scoreless streak spanning seven consecutive games. He allowed his first home run in the game against Chesapeake on the 3rd, conceding his first run of the season, yet still secured his first save of the year. Today, he added another two consecutive saves with another stable pitching performance.

Ko Woo-seok, who served as LG's guardian, has been nurturing his dreams in the minor leagues for three years. Having protected the back door solidly at LG, where he even won the saves champion title and accumulated 139 career saves, he signed a 2+1-year contract worth up to $7 million (approximately 10.3 billion won) with the San Diego Padres via the posting system after the 2023 season and boarded a flight to the United States.

Ahead of his first season, he traveled to Korea to participate in the MLB Seoul Series but was ultimately demoted, starting with regret. He never stepped onto the big league stage again. Even after being traded to the Miami Marlins in a 1-for-4 deal to acquire batting champion Luis Araez (San Francisco) in May of that year, Ko Woo-seok continued to play only in the minor leagues. He finished his first season with a record of 4 wins, 3 losses, 3 saves, 4 holds, and an ERA of 6.54 in 44 minor league games.

Last year, after being released, he signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers and showed improvement over his first season by increasing his pitching velocity. In 32 games, he recorded 2 wins, 1 loss, 3 saves, 3 holds, and an ERA of 4.46.

This season, including two Triple-A games, he is currently performing with 1 loss, 2 saves, 1 hold, and an ERA of 2.40. If he maintains his current pace, he is expected to be called up to Triple-A soon.

LG is also eagerly waiting for Ko Woo-seok. With Yoo Young-chan, who had achieved 11 consecutive saves and demonstrated powerful performance, undergoing surgery for a stress fracture in his right elbow, the closer position has become vacant.

Although Jang Hyun-sik and Ham Deok-ju have been protecting the back door since then, they are pitchers lacking professional closer experience. LG has expressed interest in Ko Woo-seok, and General Manager Cha Myeong-seok personally boarded a flight to the United States.

However, it remains uncertain what choice Ko Woo-seok will make, as he continues his lonely life abroad with the firm resolve to challenge the big leagues.

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*This content was translated by AI.