MLB San Diego Padres sign Korean closer go to two-year deal

NEW DELHI: South Korean closing relief pitcher Go Woo-suk has inked a two-year contract with the San Diego Padres, as announced by the Major League Baseball club. The 25-year-old right-hander's deal also includes a mutual option for the 2026 season and is reportedly valued at $4.5 million, according to Padres general manager A.J. Preller.
Go Woo-suk showcased his talent during the 2022 season with the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) champion LG Twins.In 44 relief appearances, he recorded 59 strikeouts, secured 15 saves, and maintained a 3.68 earned-run average. His impressive performance in the KBO playoffs included a 1-1 record with a save.
Over his seven seasons with the LG Twins, Go amassed a record of 19–26 with an impressive 139 saves in 354 career appearances, boasting a 3.18 ERA. He was a consistent force in the KBO, leading the league with 42 saves in 2022 and ranking among the top five in saves for the past five seasons.
The addition of Go Woo-suk strengthens the Padres bullpen, which had already welcomed Japanese left-hander Yuki Matsui the previous month. The two pitchers could potentially vie for the closing relief pitcher role with the Padres.
Notably, Go Woo-suk is the brother-in-law of South Korean centerfielder Lee Jung-hoo, the 2022 KBO Most Valuable Player, who recently signed a six-year, $113 million MLB deal with the San Francisco Giants, a rival in the Padres' National League West division. Both players were teammates on the South Korean squad during the Tokyo Olympics.
(With AFP inputs)