Right-handed pitcher Shim Jun-seok (19, expected to graduate from Deoksu High School), who threw the fastest ball in high school baseball last year, took the first step toward advancing to the Major League (MLB). MLB.com reported on the 16th (Korean time), “The Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to join Korean pitcher Shim Jun-seok and Dominican Republic outfielder Raymond Mora.”
The 30 MLB teams can sign international amateur players under the age of 25 (players over the age of 16 residing outside the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico) from January 15, local time. The limit on the total contract amount is also renewed on this day, and the total amount of money that Pittsburgh can spend until December 15, the deadline for signing international amateur players, is $5,825,500 (about 7.2 billion won).
Shim Jun-seok’s trip to Pittsburgh was predicted early. On the 12th, The Athletics, an American sports media outlet, reported, “The possibility of Shim Jun-seok going to Pittsburgh is growing. He is ranked 10th in the international prospect list by MLB.com.” Pittsburgh fan site Lum Butter welcomed him, saying, “Shim Jun-seok is a great rookie with excellent physical condition and speed. He is a great opportunity for Pittsburgh, which needs to keep recruiting talent.”스포츠토토
MLB.com reported the news of Shim Jun-seok’s agreement to join Pittsburgh and said, “He throws a fast ball with an average speed of 94 to 96 miles per hour (about 151 to 154 km) and a maximum speed of 100 miles per hour (about 161 km). From 12 o’clock to 6 o’clock, He has a falling curve and controls all types of pitches he has,” he said.
MLB.com also said, “Shim Jun-seok can choose a slider and changeup as plus pitches in the future.” “If you watch Shim Jun-seok’s growth process, who has been throwing fastballs since his early teens and pitching calmly, it reminds me of Park Chan-ho’s childhood.” added. Park Chan-ho, the first Korean major leaguer, recorded 124 wins in the big leagues with his fastball and big curveball. The last MLB team he joined was also Pittsburgh.
Shim Jun-seok is also a right-handed orthodox pitcher with a maximum speed of 157 km/h. By his freshman year at Deoksu High School, he had already exceeded 150 km/h and was spotted on the radar of MLB scouts. After signing an agent contract with MLB super agent Scott Boras in March of last year, he gave up applying for the 2023 KBO draft and chose to challenge the United States. Pittsburgh, which constantly worked behind the scenes to bring in Shim Jun-seok, made the signing official as soon as the international amateur player’s new contract began.
In addition to Park Chan-ho and Shim Jun-seok, Pittsburgh has a deep relationship with Korean players. Retired infielder Kang Jeong-ho and infielder Park Hyo-joon, who are looking for a new team, passed through Pittsburgh. Another Korean infielder Bae Ji-hwan is now in the team, and in November of last year Geopo infielder Choi Ji-man, who played for the Tampa Bay Rays, was also recruited through a trade. It can be a great help to Shim Jun-seok, who has to step up from the first stage of the minor leagues in an unfamiliar American land.
The amount of Shim Jun-seok’s contract, which drew attention, has not yet been disclosed. Pitcher Kim Byeong-hyun, who signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1999 for 2.25 million dollars, is the Korean player who signed with an American club as an amateur and received the highest contract fee ever. Ryu Je-guk (Chicago Cubs), who received 1.6 million dollars in 2001, followed by Choo Shin-soo (Seattle Mariners), who signed 1.37 million dollars in 2000.
With this contract, Shim Jun-seok may surpass Kim Byung-hyun’s record in 24 years. Brandon Maeya (Cuba), an outfielder ranked as the ninth international prospect by MLB.com, signed with the New York Yankees for $4.4 million. Outfielder Ariel Castro (Cuba), picked 11th, signed a contract with the Minnesota Twins for $2.5 million. Shim Jun-seok, who ranked 10th on this list, is likely to receive a similar down payment. Many clubs seem to be sparing no investment, such as the San Diego Padres offering 5.6 million dollars to catcher Ethan Salas (Venezuela), the number one international prospect.