▲ Go Woo-suk
Right-handed pitcher Go Woo-suk, who was ejected from a minor league game in U.S. professional baseball over suspicions of violating the ban on foreign substances, has been handed a 10-game suspension.
Minnesota local media outlets Pioneer Press and the Star Tribune reported on the 27th (Korean time) that the Office of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball (MLB) finalized a 10-game suspension for Go.
Go, who was playing for the Minnesota Twins in MLB before being optioned to Triple-A St. Paul Saints (Minnesota's minor league affiliate) on the 21st, was subjected to a glove check by umpires prior to making a relief appearance in a home game against the Columbus Clippers (Cleveland Guardians' affiliate) on the 25th.
MLB and the minor leagues strictly regulate and prohibit pitchers from applying sticky foreign substances to their gloves to gain an advantage when throwing the ball.
Pitching with foreign substances such as pine tar allows pitchers to increase the spin rate of the ball, which provides an advantage when throwing fastballs and breaking pitches.
After inspecting Go's glove and both hands as he headed toward the mound, the umpire determined that there was a foreign substance on the inside of the glove, called over the other umpires, ordered Go's ejection, and confiscated his glove.
According to reports, following standard disciplinary procedures, the MLB office announced the 10-game ban on the 27th and retroactively applied the effective date to the 26th.
Go stated that he plans to appeal through the Players Association.
The minor league umpiring crew sent Go's confiscated glove to the MLB office for a thorough investigation.
After moving to the United States in 2024 and spending a long period bouncing around the minor leagues, Go joined Minnesota's major league roster on the 8th of this month and made his big league debut against Cleveland on the 10th.
However, Go was optioned back to the minor leagues after allowing 3 runs in 1 inning against Cleveland on July 21.
He recorded 1 hold and a 9.00 ERA across 4 major league appearances.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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