Go Woo-suk Denies Foreign Substance Allegation: "Used Since the WBC, I Am Innocent"

Woo-suk Go, a pitcher for the Minnesota Twins currently playing in Minor League Baseball who received a 10-game suspension for allegedly using a foreign substance on his glove, has appealed his innocence via social media.

On the morning of July 27, Go posted a message on his social media starting with, "In my life, I have never once thought about competing through unfair means."

Go explained the substance found on his glove, stating, "I have never made choices that compromise the values of baseball for better performance."

He stated, "The substance in question on the glove is something that has accumulated since earlier this year as sweat and rosin repeatedly mixed and hardened on the leather," adding that the glove used in that game "is the same glove I have used in every single game from the WBC until now, and I have never once received any objections during games."

He also added that he is confident this substance had no possibility of affecting his pitching.

Previously, before taking the mound as a relief pitcher in a home game against the Columbus Clippers on July 25, Go was subjected to a glove inspection by the umpires.

Major League Baseball (MLB) and its minor leagues strictly prohibit pitchers from applying sticky substances to their gloves to increase spin rate or gain other advantages when throwing the ball. After inspecting Go's glove and both hands as he headed to the mound, the umpire found a foreign substance inside the glove, called over other umpires, and ordered Go's ejection.

Ultimately, Go had his glove confiscated and left the mound without throwing a single pitch.

Subsequently, the MLB Office of the Commissioner issued a 10-game suspension to Go.

Though it was initially reported that he would accept the suspension, Go stated, "To prove my innocence, I plan to go through the appeal process via the Players Association," while apologizing to supporting fans for causing concern.

Under current regulations, while pitchers are allowed to use rosin for sweat management, applying it directly to the glove is strictly prohibited. Furthermore, given that there have been no previous cases where a suspension related to this rule was overturned through a player's appeal, it is unlikely that Go's 10-game suspension will be changed.

Reported by Kim Taewon | Video by Kim Na-on | Graphics by Lee Jung-joo | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.