Former KBO saves leader Go Woo-suk ejected for using a foreign substance during his MLB stint

Go Woo-suk, a South Korean pitcher now playing for the Minnesota Twins' Triple-A team, was ejected for allegedly violating the foreign substance rule regarding his glove.

In the Triple-A game on July 25 (Beijing time), Go Woo-suk came in as the third pitcher in the seventh inning. According to several Korean media outlets, before he could throw a pitch, umpires examined his glove and found a sticky substance inside, resulting in his immediate ejection. He was removed without throwing a single pitch, and his glove was confiscated. Consequently, Major League Baseball handed down a 10-game suspension.

During his time in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), Go Woo-suk won the league's saves title in 2022. After the 2023 season, he joined the San Diego Padres via the posting system, signing a two-year, $4.5 million contract. In his first two seasons in the U.S., he never got a chance to pitch in the majors. After being traded to the Twins this year, he was finally called up to the big leagues on July 8 through a contract clause and made his MLB debut on July 10. He then appeared in three more games but struggled, and was subsequently optioned to the minors. The former KBO saves leader now faces an unexpected suspension, which has been quickly reported by many Korean media outlets.

Sports Chosun (online edition) reported, "Go Woo-suk is facing strong headwinds. The rules regarding penalties for using prohibited substances are the same in the KBO as in the MLB. Therefore, this incident not only affects his chances of returning to the majors but is also expected to become a major obstacle when he eventually returns to Korea to continue his career."

SPOTV NEWS (online edition) reported this with the headline, "Shock! Go Woo-suk finally suspended for 10 games, what foreign substance did he use... Penalized for violating rules." It added, "It has not been disclosed what foreign substance Go Woo-suk used," and noted, "The specific substance that led to his suspension has not been revealed to the public."

Go Woo-suk has represented the South Korean national team in multiple international tournaments. Before the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC), his comments during an interview with Korean media sparked a major controversy. He stated that if he were to face Japan's Shohei Ohtani in the Classic, he would not rule out throwing a "purposeful hit-by-pitch." This remark quickly spread online and drew strong criticism from fans in both Japan and South Korea. However, Go Woo-suk was injured during a warm-up game before the Classic and never took the mound in the entire tournament.