'Glove Foreign Object Penalty → 8 Games Suspended' Ko Woo-seok, 1 Inning Removed → ERA 1.91 'Minor League is Narrow'

*This content was translated by AI.

Ko Woo-seok (28) took the mound in the minor leagues for the first time since his penalty. Despite sitting out eight games, he proved once again that the minor league stage is narrow.

Ko Woo-seok, who plays for the Saint Paul Saints, a Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, appeared as the team's fourth pitcher in the 2026 Minor League Triple-A home game against the Louisville Bats (a Cincinnati Reds affiliate) at CHS Field in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA, on the 5th (Korean time), recording one walk and zero runs over one inning.

Ko Woo-seok took the mound in the bottom of the eighth inning with his team leading 11-5. After issuing a ball to the leadoff batter on the first pitch, he gained an advantage in the count with a four-seam fastball and a curveball. Following two more balls on pitches five and six, he recorded the first out by inducing a straight-line grounder to the second baseman on the seventh pitch, a curveball.

After issuing a walk to Will Benson, Ko Woo-seok pitched aggressively against Michael Chavis. He got a strikeout on the outside edge of the plate with his four-seam fastball on the first pitch. He induced a swing and miss with a low curveball on the second pitch. After both the third and fourth pitches (a curveball and a four-seam fastball) resulted in foul balls, he threw a slider that darted low and away on the fifth pitch, inducing a double play to the third baseman, second baseman, and first baseman.

On this day, Ko Woo-seok threw 17 pitches, with 10 falling into the strike zone. His fastest fastball reached 95 mph (152.9 km/h). He finished his outing with six four-seam fastballs, seven curveballs, three split-finger fastballs, and one slider that induced the double play.

As a result, Ko Woo-seok's minor league statistics for this season stand at 28 games, 42⅓ innings, 3 wins, 1 loss, 4 saves, 3 holds, and an ERA of 1.91.

Ko Woo-seok was ordered to leave the game by the umpires during a glove inspection before his relief appearance in the bottom of the seventh inning on the 25th of last month at CHS Field in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA, in a game against the Columbus Clippers (a Cleveland Guardians affiliate).

A foreign substance was found in his glove that could affect pitching, resulting in an automatic suspension from playing for ten games.

However, Ko Woo-seok's side filed an appeal through the players' union, which was partially accepted, reducing the suspension by two games to eight games. Ultimately, he took the mound on this day after his penalty concluded, once again proving that the minor league stage is narrow.

Previously, Ko Woo-seok successfully made his major league debut following tremendous performances in the minor leagues. After appearing in four games since his debut on the 10th of last month, showing both potential and regret, he received notification to return to the minors on the 22nd of last month.

For pitchers, a demotion to the minor leagues requires a minimum of 15 days. Since 15 days have already passed, he could be called up to the major leagues as early as the 6th. While the bullpen situation at Minnesota will remain the most critical variable, the fact that Ko Woo-seok's suspension was reduced by two games has created a scenario where he could be called up immediately, which is a very positive development.

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*This content was translated by AI.