Woo-suk Go Ejected for Suspected Foreign Substance Use in First Game After Triple-A Demotion

Woo-suk Go has been ejected from a U.S. professional baseball minor league game over suspicions of violating regulations against using foreign substances.

Go, a right-handed relief pitcher for the Triple-A St. Paul Saints (Minnesota Twins), took the mound as the team's third pitcher in the top of the 7th inning during a home game against the Columbus Clippers (Cleveland Guardians) in the 2026 Minor League Baseball Triple-A regular season on the 25th (Korean time) at CHS Field in St. Paul, Minnesota.

An umpire inspected Go's hands and glove as he headed toward the mound, and after claiming there was a foreign substance inside the glove, called over the other umpires.

After examining the glove for a while, the umpires ordered Go to be ejected and confiscated his glove.

Major League Baseball introduced a system in 2021 allowing umpires to inspect pitchers' hands and gloves during games following consecutive controversies over pitchers using foreign substances.

Applying sticky substances such as pine tar to the hand when throwing a ball can increase spin rate, movement, and velocity.

If a foreign substance is discovered during the inspection, the player is immediately ejected, followed by disciplinary procedures that typically result in a 10-game suspension.

The broadcasting crew on this day remarked, "We've never seen anything like this," adding, "It looks like the umpires found something inside the glove."

They continued, "While we don't know the exact issue, if he violated the foreign substance rule, a suspension will follow."

The minor league front office has not yet officially announced whether disciplinary action will be taken against Go.

However, the official game log on the website noted, "Woo-suk Go was ejected by home plate umpire Steven Hodges."

After moving to the United States in 2024 and bouncing around the minor leagues for a long period, Go joined Minnesota's big league roster on the 8th, and on the 10th against the Cleveland Guardians, he fulfilled his long-cherished dream of making his major league debut.

However, Go was sent back down to the minor leagues after struggling on the 21st against the Cleveland Guardians, allowing 3 runs in 1 inning.

This season, he recorded 1 hold with a 9.00 ERA across 4 major league games, while posting 3 wins, 1 loss, 3 holds, and 4 saves with a 1.96 ERA in 27 minor league appearances, marking his best performance since moving to the U.S.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.