Why did Go Woo-suk become a free agent after leaving the Minnesota Twins?

Go refused an outright assignment to the minors after clearing waivers. Because he had already been outrighted once in his career by the Miami Marlins in May 2024, he had the right to reject the assignment and immediately become a free agent.

Could Go Woo-suk return to the LG Twins, and why would that matter?

A return to the LG Twins is possible because he previously pitched for them from 2017 to 2023 and was their full-time closer starting in 2019. The article says LG is in a postseason race and has been hit hard by pitching injuries, which makes bullpen help valuable.

How did Go Woo-suk perform with the Minnesota Twins and St. Paul Saints?

He made his MLB debut with Minnesota on July 9 and lasted four games, allowing four runs on eight hits, including two home runs, in four innings. After that, he struggled in the minors as well, including an ejection for an illegal substance in his glove and a later 12.54 ERA across eight outings.

Pitcher Go Woo-suk becomes free agent with possible reunion with ex-KBO team looming

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Summary

Korean pitcher Go Woo-suk became a free agent after refusing an outright assignment to the Minnesota Twins’ Triple-A club in St. Paul. The move could open the door to a reunion with his former KBO team, the LG Twins. Go had a rough stint in Minnesota, then was sent back to the minors after clearing waivers.

Key Facts

The Twins designated Go for assignment on Friday and announced Monday that he elected free agency instead of accepting another Triple-A assignment.
Go had previously been outrighted by the Miami Marlins in May 2024, giving him the right to refuse a minor-league assignment and become a free agent immediately.
Go pitched for the LG Twins from 2017 to 2023 and recorded 139 saves over his five seasons as the team’s full-time closer starting in 2019.
In his brief MLB stint with Minnesota, Go pitched four innings in four games, allowed four runs on eight hits, and posted a 9.00 ERA.
After his suspension ended, Go allowed 13 earned runs on nine hits and 11 walks in 9 1/3 innings for the St. Paul Saints, finishing with a 12.54 ERA across eight outings.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 1, 2026 9:13 am KST

Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Go Woo-suk 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 become a free agent after refusing an outright assignment to the minor league by the Minnesota Twins.

The Twins announced Monday (U.S. local time) that Go elected free agency instead of accepting another stint with their Triple-A club, the St. Paul Saints.

The Twins had designated Go for assignment Friday. 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 he may be sent outright to the minors or released, becoming a free agent.

With the annual trade deadline already gone, Go waited to see if any team would pick him off waivers. After no team did, the Twins sought to send the Korean pitcher back to St. Paul.

However, a player who has previously been outrighted in his career has the right to refuse a minor-league assignment and immediately become a free agent.

Go, who was designated for assignment by the Miami Marlins in May 2024, exercised that right.

Go's free agency likely opens the door for him to rejoin his former Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club, the LG Twins.

Go pitched for them from 2017 to 2023. He became their full-time closer in 2019, and over the next five seasons, Go compiled 139 saves, more than any other KBO closer in that stretch.

Go signed with the San Diego Padres in January 2024 but bounced around multiple organizations before finally making his Major League Baseball debut with the Minnesota Twins on July 9 this year.

He lasted just four games with Minnesota, pitching to a 9.00 ERA in four innings after allowing four runs on eight hits, including two home runs. He was sent to St. Paul after serving up three runs on four hits in one inning on July 20.

Four days later, in what would have been his Saints debut, Go was ejected for having an illegal substance in his glove. He was initially suspended for 10 games but had it reduced to eight games following an appeal.

After his suspension ended, Go went on to post a 12.54 ERA across eight outings, with 13 earned runs allowed on nine hits and 11 walks in just 9 1/3 innings.

The LG Twins, the 2025 Korean Series champions, are in the thick of a postseason battle, currently occupying fourth place with a win-loss-tie record of 64-51-1.

Their pitching staff has been decimated by injuries all season. They rank seventh among 10 KBO teams with a 4.92 ERA, and their relievers have the fifth-best ERA at 5.16.

You Young-chan, who succeeded Go as the closer in 2024, underwent season-ending elbow surgery in April. It forced the Twins to convert starting pitcher Son Ju-young to closer.

They have also cycled through several setup men, while veteran Kim Jin-sung is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury.

While Go would provide an immediate jolt to the Twins' bullpen, he will not be eligible to pitch for them in the postseason. Players must be on an active roster by July 31 to be allowed to compete in postseason games.

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