Dae-Sung Koo: Short Time South Korean Mets Pitcher (2005)

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Dae-Sung Koo was born on August 2, 1969 in South Korea. The six foot one Koo, was a natural right handed pitcher, but an arm injury as a child forced him learn how to pitch left handed.

He began his pro career in Korea in 1993. Three years later he won 18 games & posted 24 saves with 183 strike outs.

He won a Gold Glove as well as being named the league's MVP. In 2000 he led The Korean National Team to a Bronze Medal pitching in the Summer Olympics.

The next year he went over to pitch in the Japanese Pacific League, pitching for the Orix Blue Waves team. 

 In 2004 he became a starting pitcher & when Orix merged with the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes he announced he wanted to pitch in America for the major leagues.

In 2005 he was signed by the New York Mets and had an impressive Spring Training earning him a spot on the Met pitching staff.

Mets Career: He debuted on Opening Day in Cincinnati getting credit for a hold, pitching a scoreless 8th inning. The Mets ended up losing the game when Braden Looper gave up back to back HRs to Adam Dunn & Joe Randa in the bottom of the 9th.

After six scoreless games he allowed three runs to the Washington Nationals on April 25th. In May Koo got credit for five holds, but also had two blown saves coming in Chicago & Florida.

His biggest Mets moment came in the May 21st Subway Series matchup at Shea Stadium. Koo relieved Kris Benson & got a chance to bat against Randy Johnson.

 Koo shocked everyone, blasting the pitch over the centerfielders head all the way to the wall. He dashed into second with a stand up double. He then scored on a Jose Reyes bunt, with no one covering third base.



Koo would pitch in 33 games as a middle reliever for the 2005 Mets, posting a 3.93 ERA, with 23 strike outs, allowing ten earned runs in 23 innings pitched.

His MLB Mets career was short lived, as his contract was sold back to Korea for the 2006 season. 

 Post Mets Career: He eventually began to
pitch in the Australian baseball League. He eventually became a closer & was still pitching into his forties.

 Family: Koo & his wife live in Sydney Australia with their two children.

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