“If I meet Japan again, I will fight with confidence.”
Go Woo-seok (25, LG Twins), who has grown into the KBO League’s best guardian, will wear the Taegeuk mark again. He vowed to pay back the slump in international competitions in the World Baseball Classic (WBC).
On the 16th, Go Woo-seok attended the WBC national team press conference held at the Rivera Hotel in Cheongdam, Seoul as a representative of the team.
Go Woo-seok was the best closer in professional baseball last year. He recorded 4 wins, 2 losses, 42 saves, and an ERA of 1.48, becoming the first salvation king in his career. He swept the best reliever and best pitcher awards at various awards ceremonies after the season.
Go Woo-seok has 123 saves in his career, but he has not yet achieved results in international competitions. He was picked up in his first adult squad for the 2019 Premier 12, but only scored 2 runs in 3 innings in 3 games. At his second event, the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, he was even more disappointed. He pitched in the fifth inning in Game 2 of the opening round against the United States, giving up two consecutive hits and runs.
A more lethal scene came in the first leg of the semifinals against Japan at the Tokyo Olympics. With the score tied at 2-2 at the end of the 8th inning, he induced Kensuke Kondo to ground a ball to second base with one out and first base, but missed it in front of first base. The butterfly effect of missteps was great. Go Woo-seok faltered afterwards, causing a crisis with the bases loaded with two outs, and became a losing pitcher after being hit with a sweeping double by Tetsuto Yamada.
It was a Korea-Japan match that only left scars, but Go Woo-seok said that he became stronger. At a press conference on the 16th, Ko Woo-seok said, “This is my first WBC tournament. When I play with the Taegeuk mark, something always comes to my heart. I will do my best to achieve good results.”
Go Woo-seok said, “I was very lacking in my skills at the last Olympics. I tried my best with the thought of ‘I need to improve for two years’ with the match against Japan as an opportunity.” If we meet again, I will win with confidence.” 메이저놀이터
As Go Woo-seok said, he became a pitcher different from last year in 2021. In 2021, Ko Woo-seok collapsed in an important situation even though his ERA (2.17) was low. 7 blown saves. However, his earned run average in the 2022 season was also lower, and his blown saves were reduced to two. The WPA (Win Probability Contribution), which is rated according to the performance of the match, has risen significantly from 1.41 to 4.85. It is thanks to the addition of curve to the repertoire and the completeness of pitching improved greatly.
The one who kept the back door of the 21st century Korean national team the longest was Oh Seung-hwan, the “end player.” However, Oh Seung-hwan’s name is not on the national team this time. Go Woo-seok, who emerged as the best finisher, must carry on the genealogy. Ko Woo-seok recently revealed his willingness to challenge the major leagues (MLB) through an interview. The WBC is an opportunity for him to experience top players and appeal himself to the MLB.
Go Woo-seok said, “There is still a lot of time left until the tournament. I feel the excitement first rather than the burden. (finishing pitcher) I try to prepare well rather than thinking about connecting the big seniors. I want to use it,” he said.