It regained its appearance last year. In the second half, 42 saves will be recorded, similar to 2022 when he became the youngest player in the league with 40 saves. Ko Woo-suk achieved career highs side by side in ERA (1.48), WHIP (0.96) and batting average (0.173) last year. And until the 24th, the second half of this season’s records are 1.32 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, and 0.149 batting average.
He was unable to recover his normal condition due to two injuries in the first half, but he was on track exactly from July. Currently, LG has a stronger pitcher than any other team in the ninth inning save situation. If he maintains his pace now, he can also have a one-point ERA for the second consecutive year.
And Ko Woo-suk’s strong performance is a great hope for the Hangzhou Asian Games (AG) national team, which will be convened on the 22nd of next month. Many players are suffering from injuries and poor conditions, including key hitter Lee Jung-hoo’s injury. Fortunately, however, the closer is showing off his peak condition. Somehow, if he leads until the eighth inning, there is a belief that Ko Woo-suk will take the mound in the ninth inning to complete the victory.
LG Twins’ Ko Woo-suk is making a high five with catcher Huh Do-hwan after taking the mound in the top of the ninth inning of the 2023 KBO League Kiwoom Heroes at Jamsil Stadium on the 2nd. Ko Woo-suk threw two balls against Lee Yong-kyu to induce an outfield fly ball to harvest his ninth save of the season. August 2, 2023, Jamsil | Reporter Park Jin-up
Perhaps more than anyone else, Ko Woo-suk is more likely to be looking at the AG and struggling. Ko Woo-suk has nothing to do with military service benefits, but he rarely showed himself at international competitions.
The World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March was particularly disappointing. Until the Arizona camp in February, he showed off his peak condition, and MLB scouts also checked Ko Woo-suk’s balls. It was expected to be an opportunity for the WBC to publicize Ko Woo-suk’s name, with local fans in the U.S. coming up to Ko Woo-suk and asking for his autograph and photo.
However, he suffered an unexpected injury in the warm-up match ahead of the WBC, and he did not play a single game in the WBC. Even after returning to his team, he missed the early part of the season, and the tower he built after spending more faithful off-season than ever seemed to collapse.
WBC national team right-hander Ko Woo-suk took the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning of the warm-up match between the Japanese Orix Buffaloes and the South Korean WBC national team at Kyocera Dome in Osaka on the 6th and is being replaced by shoulder pain in the bottom of the eighth inning. Osaka | Reporter Kang Young-jo
It didn’t just collapse. At the end of April, I felt back pain that I had never experienced before, so I left for another month, but I’m in the best condition now. He said to himself, “I think I’ve returned to my good old self since July. I’m confident,” he said with a smile.
The mound is especially important in short-term games like the AG. If the planned winning formula collapses, there is no time to fix it. Therefore, I always worry about the formation of the mound, but if it continues, there is no need to worry about the operation of the mound in the ninth inning.
Korean baseball has won four consecutive Asian Games and its team LG has won the top for the first time in 29 years. It is Ko Woo-suk, who is aiming for two major tasks. 토토