Why is Go Woo-suk returning to the LG Twins after leaving the Minnesota Twins?

Go became a free agent after Minnesota designated him for assignment and tried to send him to Triple-A, but he refused the minor-league assignment. That opened the door for him to return to LG, where he pitched from 2017 to 2023.

What did Go Woo-suk do in his short MLB stint with the Minnesota Twins?

He debuted on July 9 and appeared in four games, allowing four runs on eight hits, including two home runs, over four innings. After being sent to St. Paul, he was ejected for having an illegal substance in his glove and later served an eight-game suspension.

Can Go Woo-suk pitch for LG Twins in the 2026 postseason?

No. The story says he will not be eligible for postseason games because players had to be on an active roster by July 31 to qualify.

Pitcher Go Woo-suk reunites with ex-KBO team after short MLB stint

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Summary

Go Woo-suk is reuniting with the LG Twins in Seoul after a short MLB stint, and the deal could be signed before the end of Tuesday. The 28-year-old right-hander became a free agent after being designated for assignment by the Minnesota Twins and refusing an outright assignment to Triple-A. He previously pitched for LG from 2017 to 2023 and led the KBO in saves over his five seasons as full-time closer. LG is fourth in the standings, but Go will not be eligible for the postseason roster.

Key Facts

Go Woo-suk was designated for assignment by the Minnesota Twins last Friday and became a free agent after refusing an outright assignment to the St. Paul Saints. The LG Twins said he is on his way back to Seoul and could sign his deal before the end of Tuesday.
Go pitched for LG from 2017 to 2023 and became the team’s full-time closer in 2019. He compiled 139 saves over the next five seasons, more than any other KBO closer in that span.
Go made his MLB debut with Minnesota on July 9 and appeared in four games, posting a 9.00 ERA in four innings. He was later ejected for having an illegal substance in his glove and received an eight-game suspension after appeal.
LG entered the day in fourth place at 64-51-1 and has been dealing with multiple pitching injuries, including season-ending elbow surgery for You Young-chan and a shoulder injury for Kim Jin-sung.
Players must be on an active roster by July 31 to be eligible for postseason games, so Go will not be able to pitch for LG in the playoffs.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 1, 2026 9:13 am KST
Updated Sep 1, 2026 10:42 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

Free agent pitcher Go Woo-suk is reuniting with his former club in Korea after a short stint in the majors.

An official with the LG Twins of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said Tuesday the 28-year-old pitcher is on his way back to Seoul and could sign his deal before the end of the day.

Go had been designated for assignment by the Minnesota Twins last Friday. After Go was not claimed off waivers, the Twins sought to outright him to their Triple-A club, the St. Paul Saints, but Go refused that assignment and became a free agent instead.

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.

A player who has previously been outrighted in his career has the right to refuse a minor-league assignment and immediately hit free agency.

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

Go's free agency opened the door for him to rejoin the LG Twins, for whom he previously pitched 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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