LG Twins' Go Woo-seok, 25, could be on his way to the majors, but owner Koo Kwang-mo needs to make a decision.
LG won the Korean Series for the first time in 29 years, but before the team could celebrate, it received unexpected news about Go Woo-seok's Major League Baseball background check.
"We received a request from the Major League Baseball (MLB) Secretariat for an identity check on LG's Ko Woo-seok on the 14th, and notified him today (15th) that he is a player of the LG Twins," the KBO said.
Kiwoom's Lee Jung-hoo's move to the major leagues after this season has ended has been a topic of interest all season. In January, Lee was granted permission by Kiwoom to try out for the major leagues through the posting system at the end of the season. However, the MLB secretariat requested to check the identity of Ko Woo-seok along with Lee.
This was an embarrassing news for LG, which had no intention of letting Ko Woo-seok enter the major leagues. A background check is a necessary preliminary step before a foreign team can sign a Korean player playing in the KBO. However, a background check is not a 100% guarantee of a major league contract.
First of all, Go Woo-seok is not a free agent, so in order to go overseas, he has to get permission from the LG team and go through the posting system. This is the same as Kiwoom's Lee Jung-hoo, who received early permission from the Kiwoom organization to post in January.
The question is whether the LG team will allow him to post. After hearing about the Major League Baseball status check, Go Woo-seok's agent asked the LG team to "give him a chance to challenge the Major League Baseball through the posting system." Lee Yerang, a representative of Ricoh Sports, 카지노사이트 met with LG President Cha Myung-seok on the 16th to convey their request.
Cha Myung-seok said, "I have to report to the top. It's up to the owner to decide," he said. It is not a matter that the general manager can decide. It's up to the owner, Koo Kwang-mo, who visited Jamsil Stadium twice during the Korean Series to show his love for the LG Twins baseball team.
Go joined LG as a first-round pick in 2017 and played seven seasons until this year. In 2017, his rookie year, he was 100 days short of the 145 days required for a season, but he can make up the difference with compensatory days by playing for the national team in various international tournaments. Go received compensation for his participation in the 2019 Premier12 runner-up (60 days), the 2021 Tokyo Olympics (10 days), this year's World Baseball Classic (10 days), and the Hangzhou Asian Games (25 days). With his national team compensation days, he has seven seasons of eligibility to go overseas under the posting system.
Go has been the team's closer since 2019. In seven seasons, he has a career record of 19-26 with 139 saves and six shutouts in 354 games with a 3.18 ERA. Last year, he was the league's top closer, winning his first save title with a 1.48 ERA and 42 saves. This year, he was limited to a 3-8 record with 15 saves and a 3.68 ERA in 44 games due to lingering injuries, including a neck and shoulder injury suffered at the World Baseball Classic in March. He struggled in the Korean Series, going 1-1 with an 8.31 ERA in four games and one save. His main weapon is a fastball that can reach over 155 kilometers.
Go has expressed his desire to play overseas once he is eligible for free agency. General manager Cha Myung-seok asked him if he wanted to sign a multi-year contract before this season. He wanted to tie him down before he became a free agent, but he refused to sign a multi-year contract, saying he wanted to go overseas. Go will be eligible for free agency if he plays through next season.
However, he unexpectedly received an inquiry from a major league team and wanted to try the posting system after this season. If the LG team allows him to post, he can do so. LG doesn't know which of the 30 major league teams made the inquiry.
LG won the coveted Korean Series title this year. It was their first championship in 29 years. If they want to repeat next year, Go Woo-seok is essential. He is a key resource in the bullpen.
"This is just the beginning," said manager Yoon Kyung-yeop after winning the Korean Series, and he has set his sights on winning the Korean Series in the 2024 and 2025 seasons of his contract. He made it clear that he wants to win a third straight title. LG needs Go Woo-seok to stay on top.
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