Foreign-substance ban on S. Korean minor league pitcher reduced after appeal

In a recent development, a ban imposed on South Korean minor league pitcher Go Woo-suk has been reduced from ten to eight games, according to his agency. The appeal through his players' union resulted in the sentence reduction. The suspension arose after Go was ejected during a Triple-A game on July 25 for possessing an illegal substance in his glove.

Major League Baseball (MLB) intensified its scrutiny on pitchers across all leagues during the 2021 season, aiming to curb the use of foreign substances to enhance pitch spin and movement. Umpires regularly inspect pitchers' hands and gloves between innings and following pitching changes. Those found with a banned substance face automatic ejection and a mandatory ten-game ban.

Initially, Go was not planning to contest the decision. However, he later revealed on social media that he would attempt to clear his name through the union. This marks the first occurrence where a player's appeal over a foreign-substance ban led to a reduction in the ten-game suspension, as per Leeco Sports Agency. Go is set to return to pitching on Tuesday, the agency added.

The pitcher had started the season with the Detroit Tigers before being traded to the Minnesota Twins on July 5, where he made his Major League debut on July 9. Go was subsequently optioned to Triple-A St. Paul after recording a 9.00 ERA in just four games with the Twins. Following the ejection on July 24, Go maintained his innocence on social media, stating that the substance found in his glove was merely a hardened mixture of sweat and rosin, not an intentionally introduced illegal substance.