'Sudden comeback' LG's Go Woo-seok: "My wife, who is about to give birth to our second child, has gone through the most hardship... This is not a gap that can never be overturned" [Jamsil Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

Go Woo-seok (28, LG Twins), who had been one of the KBO League's top closers, has finally returned to Korea after completing his time in the United States. Wearing an LG Twins uniform and standing at Jamsil Stadium, he vowed to do his best for the remainder of the season.

On the 3rd, Go Woo-seok faced reporters ahead of an away game against the Doosan Bears at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium.

Go Woo-seok began by saying, "I am truly happy that I was able to return to LG even after coming back. Although there are not many games left, I am deeply grateful for the excellent treatment I received. This makes me feel an even greater sense of responsibility to perform better."

Regarding the process of his return to LG, he explained, "I had been processed under a second designation for assignment (DFA). If I were transferred to the minor leagues, I would have had the right to choose free agency. For three days, I waited for (offers from other teams), and the Minnesota Twins wanted me to stay in the minors. However, after much consideration, I chose free agency."

He continued, "Since I had a full three days, I carefully considered various situations. While moving to another team would have been the best scenario, I also had to consider the possibility that it might not happen. I pondered whether staying in the minors or returning to Korea would be more beneficial. As a result, I decided that returning to Korea was acceptable. This season, I pitched so many innings and played so many games in the United States. The travel distance was also long. Therefore, I came to believe that finishing the season early in the U.S. and returning to Korea would not be a bad idea."

When asked about the most decisive reason for his decision to return to Korea, Go Woo-seok said, "My family was the biggest factor. We are soon expecting our second child. My first child has also grown significantly, which weighed on my mind. Additionally, since May, my wife has expressed her wish that I return to Korea."

Go Woo-seok conveyed his sincere feelings toward his family and wife, who had quietly endured the time in the United States. He said, "My wife went through the most hardship. However, I was worried because I could not see her at my major league debut in person. On the day of my call-up, there was no 100% certainty that I would be promoted. At that time, I had already booked my wife's flight ticket in advance. I told her, 'If you take this flight, dramatic good news will surely break.' And as if by magic, I received the call-up news that day."

Go Woo-seok finally made his long-awaited major league debut on July 10. In a home game against the Cleveland Guardians at Target Field, he entered as the fourth relief pitcher in the bottom of the 9th inning with his team trailing 2-4. He pitched one inning, allowing one hit (one home run), recording one strikeout and conceding one run. This marked the moment Go Woo-seok became the 30th Korean pitcher to reach the major leagues since Park Chan-ho in 1994, and the 16th Korean pitcher to do so five years after Yang Hyeon-jong (then with the Texas Rangers) in 2021.

Following that, Go Woo-seok appeared on the major league mound three more times. On July 12, against the Los Angeles Angels, he made his second major league appearance, pitching one scoreless inning and securing his first hold. On July 20, in relief during the bottom of the 8th inning with his team trailing 1-10 against the Chicago Cubs, he pitched one inning, allowing two hits, issuing one walk, recording two strikeouts, and maintaining a scoreless performance. Although he nearly brought on a bases-loaded crisis, he allowed no runs, demonstrating outstanding relief capabilities.

Then, on July 21, in a game against Cleveland, he entered as the fourth relief pitcher in the bottom of the 7th inning with his team trailing significantly at 3-10. He pitched one inning, allowing four hits (one home run), recording two strikeouts, and surrendering three earned runs. This marked the end of his major league stint. His overall major league record was four appearances over four innings, allowing eight hits (two home runs), issuing two walks, striking out five batters, and conceding four earned runs, resulting in an ERA of 9.00.

Reflecting on his experience at the major league level, Go Woo-seok honestly admitted, "If I had been more thoroughly prepared, I could have fully enjoyed the stage like the other players there, but I was unable to do so. At that time, I well understood that being on that stage was an opportunity. I knew it was a precious chance as narrow as threading a needle. So my only thoughts were 'I must survive somehow' and 'I really want to perform well.' However, in the end, I believe things did not go well because my skills were insufficient."

Go Woo-seok will now be responsible for LG's bullpen. He stated, "Until last week, I continued to play in actual games and throw pitches, so there is absolutely no issue or pain in my body. I am physically ready to play immediately. However, since it has only been a few days since my return, the timing of my first appearance should be decided through careful discussion with the manager and coaching staff."

Finally, he added, "I went through many processes in the United States. Although those experiences were not always the right answers, I believe they will ultimately become the foundation of my baseball career. Now, I will do my best to contribute to the team. Although there is a gap between us and the top teams in the remaining games, I do not think it is an insurmountable difference. I believe that contributing even a little effort and finishing with good results is the way to repay our fans."

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*This content was translated by AI.