American Dream X, this is Ko Woo-seok's bad luck that never stops. This time, his dream of playing in MLB is on the verge of collapse due to a broken finger

Feb 21, 2025

I left expecting an 'American dream', but what I see is a reality like a 'nightmare'.

Ko Woo-seok (27, Miami Marlins)' dream of making his major league debut has faced a big challenge. This time, it is an injury that occurred in a completely unexpected situation. Most of the injuries occur unexpectedly, but Ko Woo-seok's case is even more absurd. He suddenly fractured his right index finger while pitching a towel shadow that pitchers often do.

Fracture of the index finger is a very serious situation for a right-handed pitcher. It's hard to throw the ball for quite a long time. If things don't improve dramatically, you won't know. He seems to be moving away from entering the Major League this year as well. You may have to pack your bags early and return from the U.S. stage.

MLB.COM, the official website of the Major League, said on the 21st (Korea time) 'Ko Woo-seok, who was training in the spring camp, suffered a fracture in his right index finger. He will undergo a re-examination in two weeks,' the report said. An absurd situation appears to have taken place. Miami Harold reporter Isaac Adaout said, `Ko Woo-suk used a towel to shadow pitch at the weight training center during training. I felt something wrong with my finger in the process, and I hurt my finger when I grabbed a specific grip, it was reported.

Any professional baseball pitcher knows how to pitch shadow naturally. This is because I have learned the most basic training method since I was a student.

It is a training method that can improve pitching balance by practicing pitching release movements and wrist snaps without strain on the body. Instead of the ball, repeat the pitching motion with a towel sandwiched between the thumb and middle finger as if holding the ball's grip. It can be performed even in a narrow indoor space.

However, I don't immediately understand that my index finger was fractured during such basic training. It's a very bad case of luck. Or, there is a possibility that there was already incontinence in the finger bone during the existing training, which was inadvertently passed over and worsened during shadow pitching.

Whatever the reason, it's the worst for Ko Woo-suk. In fact, it should be considered that the spring camp ended early due to this injury. Since he cannot throw the ball for at least two weeks, he is out of the spring camp and the exhibition game of Miami, which starts soon on the 23rd.

There is a bigger problem. Not being able to play in the exhibition game means that Ko Woo-seok lost the opportunity to enter the Major League early in the season. The spring camp and exhibition games were the only opportunity for Ko Woo-seok, who had no major league experience and did not stand out even in the minor leagues, to appeal his capabilities to the Miami club.

Through this, it is the route for general minor leaguers to enter the big league to enter the opening entry. However, Ko Woo-suk did not get the opportunity due to his injury. In the end, he has no choice but to start the season in the minor leagues again after rehabilitation. If the minor league has an overwhelming ball power and performance, it can aim to enter the big league.

It's not an easy task. There is already a great experience of failure. Ko Woo-suk signed with the San Diego Padres through posting ahead of the 2024 season. It was a two-year contract worth $4.5 million. Until then, Ko Woo-seok's baseball career seemed to open up 'Flower Road'.

However, the walls of Major League Baseball were higher than expected. In the end, Ko Woo-suk started his U.S. career in the minor leagues. About two months after the opening of the season, San Diego called Ko Woo-seok 's death' It was determined that there was no possibility. It was eventually traded to Miami on May 3. San Diego sent four players to recruit Luis Aras, including Ko Woo-seok.

Miami immediately assigned Ko Woo-suk to Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. However, on May 30th, it was removed from the 40-person roster and imposed a discharge waiting measure. Ko Woo-seok chose to stay in the minor league without receiving a call from any club. Miami then sent Ko to the Double-A Penser Cola Blue Wahoos in July. A way of actually urging release. But Ko remained until the end of the season.

Ko Woo-suk, who appeared in 16 games in Triple-A, had a 4.29 ERA with 2 wins and 1 hold, but in Double-A, he appeared in 28 games with 2-3 losses, 3 saves with a 8.04 ERA. Neither Triple-A nor Double-A were impressive. Strictly speaking, it is impossible to enter the big league below average.

Currently, Ko Woo-seok is a member of the Penser Cola Blue Wahoos, a double-A club under Miami. At the end of January, the Miami club tried to give Ko Woo-seok one last chance by including him on the non-Roster Invites list. Ko Woo-seok has been participating in the spring camp that began at Roger Dean Park in Jupiter, Florida, since the 13th.

Ko Woo-suk, who suffered a finger injury in a week, is now expected to return to the season at Double-A Panther Cola. There is a good chance that he will remain there until the end of the season. Miami can't easily put Ko Woo-seok, who has the right to veto going to the Minor League, into the big league.

If Ko Woo-seok does not perform MVP-class in Double A and Triple A, chances are very slim that he will be called up to the big leagues within this season. The contract is also in its last year. The fractured index finger is likely to signal Ko Woo-suk's comeback in Korea.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.