MLB Rangers sign South Korea s 18-year-old two-knife master Kim Sung-joon, who is "Shoei of South Korea Otani"

The official website of Major League Baseball (MLB) reported on the 19th that the Rangers announced today that they had signed 18-year-old 2-knife master Seong-jun Kim from South Korea, and the Neiwen also called him "Shohei of South Korea Otani". The shortstop/right pitcher, currently studying at the No. 1 university in Gwangju, South Korea, is expected to graduate in 2026 and will officially join the team system.

Rangers announced that they would sign 18-year-old two-knife master Seong-Jun Kim from South Korea, 6 feet and 2 inches tall (about 1.88 meters), weigh 185 pounds (about 84 kg). They were selected as South Korea's best high school player of the year last year. The fastest ball speed can reach 95 miles (about 153 kilometers), the strike rate this season is 0.333, and the attack index is 1.015. The official website of the major leagues pointed out that Kim Sung-jun is relatively mature in pitching, with excellent speed balls, 2 good change balls and finger-propelled balls that can create empty-swimming finger balls. The official website of the major leagues pointed out that the baseball community generally believes that Kim Sung-jun is more likely to develop towards pitchers in the future, but the Rangers insist on cultivating in the direction of two-knife flow because Kim Sung-jun has the correct mentality and determination. Rangers International scouting director Hamilton Wise said that the team believes in Kim Sung-jun's conditions and qualities, and understands that signing a Korean high school student is a challenge in itself, let alone to train him to become a second-hand rifle, but the team will use the next whole year to help him adapt to American life.

Kim Sung-jun also said through the translation that he chose to go directly to the United States after graduating from high school rather than investing in the KBO draft because he had the opportunity to enter the major league faster. "It will be very hard, but I will do my best and there will be no regrets."