LG Twins manager hopes for long-term MLB success for ex-pupil

Go Woo-suk warns up with the San Diego Padres ahead of a game against the LG Twins at Gocheok Sky Dome in western Seoul on Monday. [NEWS1]

Over the course of his managerial career in the KBO, LG Twins skipper Youm Kyoung-youb has sent a few players over to the MLB, where they had varying degrees of success.

The latest Youm disciple to take his talent to MLB is relief pitcher Go Woo-suk, who had been the Twins' closer for the past handful of years.

Go signed with the San Diego Padres in January. The Padres are in Korea this week to play 2024 season opening-series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday and Thursday.

As part of their preparation, the Padres will play the Twins on Monday at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.

Asked about his thoughts on Go as the pitcher tries to crack the Opening Day roster, Youm said Go should take a long-term view on his big league career.

"In baseball, you can't make sudden changes. Woo-suk has to stick to what he's been doing throughout his career," Youm said of the 25-year-old pitcher. "He is still growing as a ball player. And he understands clearly what he has to do. And if he can spend this year trying to take care of that and make his adjustments, then he will set himself up for a big season next year. I think that's the best path to success in MLB for Woo-suk."

Go is part of the Padres' 31-man traveling squad to Seoul but appears on the bubble as the Padres prepare to trim that roster to 26 players by 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Go did not pitch when the Padres played the Korean national team in their first exhibition game Sunday.

Youm had also previously managed the Padres' Korean shortstop Kim Ha-seong while with the Kiwoom Heroes.

With Kim entering his fourth and final year of his contract with the Padres, Youm said the 2024 season will be "the most important season of his life."

"Instead of trying to do anything special, I think he should just stick to what he's good at," Youm said. "He will have good numbers that way."

Youm said the result of Monday's game isn't as important as making sure the Twins stay on track in the buildup for the new KBO season, which starts Saturday.

"The key for us is for the guys to continue to ramp up for the new season," Youm said. "I think the game will be more important for our younger players, as far as learning from this experience and growing up from it."

Yonhap