MLB Rangers sign South Korea's 18-year-old second-hand player Kim Sung-joon, who is "South Korea's Shohei Ohtani"

Major League Baseball (MLB)The official website reported on the 19th that the Rangers announced today the signing of 18-year-old second-class player Kim Sung-jun Kim (Seong-Jun Kim) from South Korea, and Newen also called him "South Korean Otani Shohei". The shortstop/right-hand pitcher, who is currently attending Gwangju No. 1 High School in South Korea, is expected to graduate in 2026 and will officially join the team at that time.

Rangers announce the signing of 18-year-old second-hand player Seong-Jun Kim from South Korea

Standing 6 feet 2 inches (about 1.88 meters) tall and weighing 185 pounds (about 84 kilograms), Kim Sung-joon was voted South Korea's High School Player of the Year last year, with a fastest ball speed of 95 miles (153 kilometers), a batting average of 0.333 and an attack index of 1.015 this season. According to the official website of the major leagues, Kim Sung-joon is more mature in pitching, with excellent speedballs, 2 good variations, and a knuckle ball that can create airswings.

According to the official website of the major leagues, the baseball community generally believes that Kim Sung-joon is more likely to develop as a pitcher in the future, but the Rangers insist on training in the direction of the second knife stream because Kim Sung-joon has the right mentality and determination. Hamilton Wise, the Rangers' international director of scouting, said the team believes in Kim's conditions and qualities, and understands that signing a South Korean high school student is a challenge in itself, let alone a second-class player, but the team will use the next whole year to help him adjust to life in the United States.

Kim Sung-joon also said through an interpreter that he chose to go directly to the United States after graduating from high school instead of participating in the KBO draft because he would have the opportunity to enter the major leagues faster, "It will be very hard, but I will do my best and will not have a trace of regret." ”