Go Woo-suk designated for assignment by Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Go Woo-suk of Korea throws against the Chicago Cubs during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Chicago, July 19. AP-Yonhap
Korean pitcher Go Woo-suk has been designated for assignment by the Minnesota Twins, the latest snag in his quest to stick in Major League Baseball (MLB)
The Twins made the move Friday (local time), with Go having been with their Triple-A affiliate, the St. Paul Saints, since late July after a cup of coffee in MLB.
Once a player is designated for assignment, he can be traded or placed on irrevocable waivers within seven days. And if the player clears waivers — that is, if no team picks that player from waivers — then the player may be sent outright to the minors or released, becoming a free agent. Since the annual trade deadline has already passed, Go will wait and see if any team will claim him off waivers.
Go made his long-awaited MLB debut with the Twins on July 9, more than two years after first moving to the United States by signing with the San Diego Padres.
But Go lasted just four games and four innings with the big league club, giving up four earned runs on eight hits, including two home runs. He was optioned to Triple-A after surrendering three runs on four hits in one inning of work on July 20.
Go was ejected from what would have been his first game with the Saints for having an illegal substance in his glove. He was initially suspended for 10 games but had it reduced to eight games on appeal.
Then in eight outings for the Saints, Go went 2-1 but allowed 13 earned runs on nine hits in 9 1/3 innings, for an ugly 12.54 ERA. He also issued 11 walks, hit a batter and threw three wild pitches.
Go, 28, signed with the Padres in January 2024, following a successful run as an All-Star closer in the Korea Baseball Organization. However, Go never reached MLB with the Padres, who kept him in the minors and traded him to the Miami Marlins in May 2024.
Go was released by the Marlins' Triple-A team, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in June 2025, and then the Detroit Tigers signed him to a minor league deal later that month.
Go pitched the rest of his 2025 season in the Tigers' minor leagues and spent the early part of this season with their Triple-A team, the Toledo Mud Hens, before a trade to the Twins in exchange for cash.
But more time in the minors awaited Go following an unsuccessful early MLB stint, and now the right-hander faces more uncertainty.