South Korean All-Star closer Go Woo-suk has reportedly signed with the San Diego Padres.

New York Post columnist Joel Sherman tweeted Wednesday (U.S. time) that Go has agreed to a two-year contract worth US$4.5 million. The Padres have yet to confirm the deal.

Go, 25, pitched the previous seven years for the LG Twins in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).

The right-hander had been posted for Major League Baseball (MLB) clubs on Dec. 5 and had until 5 p.m. Wednesday (Eastern Time), or 7 a.m. Thursday (Korean time), to sign a contract. If Go had missed the deadline, he would have had to return to the Twins and become ineligible for posting until November this year.

Reports of Go nearing a deal with the Padres surfaced Tuesday night in the United States. Go traveled to the country early Wednesday afternoon (Korean time) to finalize the move.

Go has been one of the KBO’s premier closers since taking on that role in 2019, two years after his debut.

From 2019-2023, Go led all KBO closers with 139 saves an
d a 2.39 ERA, and ranked second with 334 strikeouts.

If the deal is finalized, Go will become the second South Korean player for the Padres, as he joins Gold Glove-winning infielder and ex-KBO All-Star Kim Ha-seong.

Source: Yonhap News Agency