The real reason why DET, a former Korean closer, recruited, will Ko Woo-seok's dream come true
Jun 25, 2025
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Will Ko Woo-seok's wait to challenge his dream finally shine. A new team is coming back from a new environment.
According to local media reports in the U.S. on the 24th (Korea time), right-hander Ko Woo-suk signed a minor league contract with the Detroit club. Ko Woo-suk, who was assigned to the Turrido Mud Hens, a triple-A team under Detroit, recently arrived in Turrido, Ohio, where his home stadium is located, and began training.
It is already the third team since entering the U.S. As a member of the LG Twins, he recorded a record of 19 wins, 26 losses, 6 holds, 139 saves, and a 3.18 ERA in 354 games during seven KBO league seasons. He has been active as LG's closing pitcher since the 2019 season, and in the 2022 season, he recorded 42 saves, the most in a single season, winning the title of 'Save King'.
Ko Woo-seok, who challenged the Major League through the posting system, signed a two-year contract of up to $4.5 million (about 6.1 billion won) with the San Diego Padres. However, it was traded to the Miami Marlins in four months, and although he waited for a call-up in Triple-A, he failed to go up in the first year and ended.
Ko Woo-seok, who was desperate ahead of this season, his second year, sought another opportunity in Miami. But this time, the bad luck hit him. He failed to enter the opening entry when he broke his right index finger while pitching shadow during spring camp training.
When his pace improved in Triple-A, Miami suddenly released Ko Woo-seok and became an FA. The possibility of returning to Korea was also predicted, but Ko Woo-seok chose to try again. A second transfer was made when Detroit offered a minor contract.
Detroit is currently the No. 1 team in the winning percentage of all 30 major league teams. Detroit, which ranks first in the American League Central and first in the American League with 50 wins and 30 losses as of the 25th, boasts a higher winning rate than the Los Angeles Dodgers (0.613), the top team in the National League.
The most important reason why Detroit, such a strong team, recruited Ko Woo-seok is 'Bulpen Reinforcement'. Detroit's ERA in the starting lineup is 3.38, the top three among the 15 American League teams, but the bullpen is in the ninth place and in the middle and lower ranks with 3.77. Pilseung teams such as closer Will Best and Tommy Kenley are struggling, but the number of bullpens that can be trusted and used is insufficient. In particular, if it was worth trying to win this year, he would have felt the need to strengthen the bullpen even more.
Detroit's local media also believe that the club's recruitment of Ko Woo-seok shows its willingness to strengthen the bullpen. In the local media, "Detroit reinforced the bullpen depth", `"Ko Woo-seok has played as a closing pitcher in the KBO League, and has a batting average of 0.222 against left-handed hitters in Triple-A this year."I pointed out what Detroit needed.
If you show a good pace after joining Triple-A, big league call-up opportunities can come. He signed the contract in consideration of the team's situation, which needed to be finished when he joined San Diego, but he was coolly behind the competition.
Now it has added to the urgency. As Ko Woo-seok prepared, the opportunity could be closer.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
