Report: KBO’s LG Twins Agree To Post Woo-Suk Go

11:12pm: LG has given the green light for pitcher Woo-Suk Go to explore offers from MLB teams, but they reserve the right to reconsider their decision once his market becomes clearer. This strategic move allows the club to potentially reject Go’s posting at a later date if the contract offers from MLB are not up to par, thereby reducing the team’s posting fee. This information was relayed by Dan Kurtz of MyKBO via Twitter.

10:18pm: The LG Twins, a team in the Korea Baseball Organization, have agreed to make closer Woo-Suk Go available to MLB teams through the posting system, according to a report in Korean from Spochoo. The exact date of the posting has not been confirmed.

Last week, Go, a 25-year-old right-hander, caught the attention of MLB scouts. When MLB teams express interest in a KBO player who is eligible to be posted, the standard procedure is to tender a status check, which was the case for Go. He then requested permission from the LG Twins to explore opportunities in MLB, and although the club was not obligated to grant this request, the Spochoo report indicates they decided to honor the player’s wishes.

It’s important to note that this does not guarantee Go signing with a major league team. Once the posting is official, there will be a 45-day window for negotiation with MLB clubs. If no signing occurs within that timeframe, Go will return to the LG Twins.

Through seven seasons in South Korea’s top baseball league, Go has maintained a 3.18 ERA. While he struggled in his first two years as a teenager, he improved to a 2.17 ERA or better in three of the next four seasons. In 2023, his ERA rose to 3.68 over 44 innings, but he maintained a high strikeout rate of 31.1% while also struggling with a high walk rate of 11.8%. However, his control was better in 2021-22, and he has consistently struck out over 28% of opposing hitters for three consecutive seasons.

Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs considered Go a 40 FV prospect last offseason, noting his ability to throw in the mid-90s and touch 98 mph, suggesting he could fit into an MLB team’s middle innings. Go also has significant high-leverage experience in Korea, with over 30 saves on three occasions.

Since Go will be made available through the posting system, any MLB team that signs him will owe compensation to the LG Twins in the form of a posting fee equal to 20% of the contract if it is below $25MM.