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| A game between the San Diego Padres and the LG Twins at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 18th. San Diego's Ko Woo-suk is regretful after allowing a two-run shot to LG Lee Jae-won with one out and a runner on the first base in the bottom of the ninth inning. Gocheok = Reporter Jung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.3.18/ |
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| Ko Woo-suk was listed on the Miami Marlins 2025 spring camp guest list. Photo courtesy = Miami Marlins |
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Ko Woo-seok (26, Miami Marlins) got his last chance to challenge the major leagues.
Ko Woo-seok was listed on the Major League Spring Camp guest list announced by the Miami club on the 28th (Korea time). A total of 24 people, including Ko Woo-suk, got the opportunity, including seven right-handers, six left-handers, three catchers, three infielders and five outfielders.
Ko Woo-suk is currently a member of the Penser Cola Blue Wahoos, a double-A club under Miami. The reality is that there are many mountains to overcome in order to be on the 40-man roster in the Major League, but anyway, they took the opportunity to at least impress by training together in the Major League Spring Camp. The Miami club will conduct spring camp training in Florida, USA, and Ko Woo-seok will join the training on the 13th of next month on the day of the call-up of pitchers and catchers.
Ko Woo-seok is a player with a high ransom compared to his position in the team. Ko Woo-suk entered the Major League with a posting system after the 2023 season, asking permission from the LG Twins. There were voices of concern because it was a surprise challenge, but the San Diego Padres succeeded in moving the stage to the United States by signing a two-year contract worth $4.5 million (about 6.4 billion won). Ko Woo-seok was traded to Miami in May last year, and Miami took measures against Ko Woo-seok (transfer nomination) less than a month later. Ko Woo-seok was sent to Penser Cola, a double-A team, as he decided to stay on the team. Ko Woo-seok still has a contract to receive an annual salary of $2.25 million (about 3.2 billion won) this year.
Ko Woo-seok has yet to take the mound in the Major League. When San Diego played the opening series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Seoul last year, Ko Woo-seok came all the way to Korea, but he was not named on the opening roster and was notified of his trip to the minor leagues. The club judged that Ko Woo-seok's strength, the ball speed, did not rise, so it needed to be prepared a little more.
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| Go Woo-seok talks while warming up at the San Diego Padres' spring camp site in Peoria, Arizona, USA on the 21st (Korea Standard Time). Peoria (Arizona, USA) = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2024.02.21/ |
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| On the 21st (Korea time), Ko Woo-seok is thanking the batters he faced after pitching at the San Diego Padres' spring camp in Peoria, Arizona. Peoria (Arizona, USA) = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2024.02.21/ |
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Even after being traded to Miami, Ko Woo-seok showed little sign of being called up to the big leagues. The minor league performance was not good. Ko Woo-suk pitched in 44 minor league games last year, losing 4-3 with three saves, 52 ⅓ innings and an ERA of 6.54. The U.S. media predicted that it would be much easier to register as a major league roster in Miami, which is in the process of rebuilding than in San Diego, but ended the season in the minor leagues without rebounding.
Despite the disastrous report card, Ko Woo-seok could not attempt to return to Korea. In any case, he signed a two-year contract and moved to the United States, so it was financially beneficial to play with a guaranteed salary until this year. In addition, Ko Woo-seok himself may be willing to make up for last year's failure. Domestic baseball players believe that Ko Woo-seok is still in his mid-20s, so it is not very reckless to see an opportunity in the United States for another year.
Ko Woo-seok is very likely to move around the minor leagues again this year if he fails to prove his value in this spring camp. It is because of the right to reject the minor league. Ko Woo-seok has the right to reject the minor league this year, but it takes effect only when he is registered on the major league roster. If he continues to stay in the minor leagues, of course, he will not exercise his veto power, and if the club believes that the risk is high, he may choose to leave Ko Woo-seok on the major league roster without putting him on the list at all. Once registered on the major league roster, even if Ko Woo-seok is sluggish, he cannot get down to the minor leagues. The club should be able to make a decision to give opportunities in the Major League even though Ko Woo-seok's right to reject the minor league. Of course, given Ko Woo-seok's current situation, it doesn't seem easy.
If there is no significant progress this year, Ko Woo-seok will have to board a flight to Korea. Will Ko Woo-suk, who is on the verge of returning to Korea, be able to write an anti-war drama in this camp.
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| Ko Woo-seok is throwing the ball vigorously at the San Diego Padres' spring camp site in Peoria, Arizona, USA on the 21st (Korea Standard Time). Peoria (Arizona, USA) = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2024.02.21/ |
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
