“Competition with Suarez and Matsui for the position that Hader left”
Local media predicted that Ko Woo-seok (26), who will wear the uniform of the Major League Baseball (MLB) San Diego Padres, will compete for the closer position in the team.
On the 9th (Korean time), the San Diego Union Tribune predicted San Diego's 40-man roster for the 2024 season and made a prediction about Go Woo-seok, who newly joined the team.
The media said, “Go Woo-seok, who throws a fastball at 94-96 mph (approximately 151.2-155.5 km), has a maximum speed of up to 98 mph (157.7 km). Along with his fastball, he throws an 82 mph (132 km) curveball that San Diego believes will be a weapon. It also uses a cutter with a range of 90 to 92 miles (144.8 to 148 km). “If his pitch control is good, he can succeed in the major leagues,” he explained.
Last season, San Diego's tailgate was led by top closer Josh Hader. However, with Hader hitting the market as a free agent this winter, San Diego had to find a new player.
San Diego began to strengthen its backdoor by recruiting not only Go Woo-seok but also Japanese bullpen pitcher Yuki Matsui.
The media predicted, “If Hader leaves the team, Go Woo-seok could compete for the finish with Robert Suarez and Matsui.”
Go Woo-seok, who entered the professional ranks wearing the LG Twins uniform as a first-round pick in 2017, took on the challenge of the United States through the posting system (private competitive bidding). On the 7th, he achieved his dream of advancing to the major leagues by receiving a two-year, $4.5 million contract with San Diego. His contract includes a mutual option for 2026, the third year of his contract, with an annual salary of $3 million.
The media explained that Go Woo-seok has grown into a closing pitcher by posting 35 saves and recording an ERA of 1.52 in 2019. In addition, he announced that he had a total of 139 saves in the KBO League, including 80 strikeouts in 60⅔ innings in 2022 and 42 saves, the most in a single season. It was also pointed out that his earned run average rose to 3.68 last season and he only had 15 saves.
We also paid attention to the fact that there are people who can provide strength to Go Woo-seok, who is making a new start in an unfamiliar environment.
The media wrote, “As his Korean colleague Kim Ha-seong is already in San Diego, and his brother-in-law Lee Jeong-hoo has joined the rival San Francisco Giants, Ko Woo-seok’s adjustment to his new life is expected to be relatively easy.” He then predicted, “Because San Diego is scheduled to play the opening game of the 2024 season in Seoul against the LA Dodgers in March, Ko Woo-seok can get the opportunity sooner.” 토토사이트