What to Expect from New Padres Reliever Woo Suk Go

In need of relief help, the Padres picked up former Rakuten closer Yuki Matsui in December. And just a few weeks later after that move, the Padres add a hard-throwing righty from the KBO in Woo Suk Go into their mix for 2024. Here’s a look at what to expect from the new Padres reliever.

A Look at Go

One of the key pieces to the LG Twins’ 2023 KBO title was Woo Suk Go, a 25-year-old right-hander with 87 saves over the past three seasons.

This past year with LG, Go recorded a team-high 15 saves for the Twins and owned a 3.68 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. While both figures were high, Go did a good job of keeping the hits down, as he yielded 38 hits and two home runs over 44 innings. The 25-year-old struck out 59 for the Twins.

Go was named to Team Korea‘s 2023 World Baseball Classic roster, a team that featured his new teammate Ha-Seong Kim, Tommy Edman, and new Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee. He didn’t pitch for Korea but his dominance in the KBO got him noticed nonetheless.

Go has several pitches in his arsenal, with arguably his best pitch being a mid-90s fastball that’s got some ride to it based on video and was a dominant pitch for the new Padres reliever when he pounded it up.

Additionally, Go will work in a high-80s to low-90s cutter that he’ll throw to both lefties and righties. There’s also a low-80s curveball that Go will break out, a steep pitch with depth.

Go was a strikeout machine in the KBO. The 25-year-old posted K/9 rates north of 10.5 in each of the last four seasons. However, walks and command are a bit suspect with Go, much like with fellow Padres reliever Yuki Matsui.

Go’s career-low BB/9 rate was 3.1 in 2022 but he’s routinely averaged a walk every two innings throughout his KBO career.

Per the New York Post, Go will receive a two-year deal worth $4.5MM. It will also reportedly come with a mutual option for 2026.

Analysis

The signing of Go marks the second notable import for the Padres this offseason, both of whom will be added to what will be a different-looking San Diego bullpen in 2024. As we noted when Matsui signed, the Padres lost Josh Hader and Nick Martinez to free agency.

San Diego’s looked to cut payroll this winter, so the additions of Matsui and Go give the Padres two interesting arms that — while very different in terms of stuff — have the potential to be cost-effective replacements.

The question for the Padres now becomes how San Diego will leverage both Go and Matsui, as well as newcomer Enyel De Los Santos, and returning relievers Steven Wilson, Robert Suarez, and Tom Cosgrove.

Matsui and Go both have closing experience overseas, and the former has a clause that would increase his five-year deal, $28MM deal to $33MM should he become the Padres’ closer. Wilson and Suarez have both been used in late-inning roles but neither have much experience in save situations at the MLB level.

There’s been some suggestion that Go could ultimately be the Padres’ closer. However, San Diego could also look to play the situation and use a committee until a name emerges.