Local media in the United States are also showing great interest in Jang Hyun-seok (19, Masan Yongma High School), a ‘먹튀검증super high school level pitcher’ who joined the LA Dodgers.
The American media Dodgers Nation reported on the 9th (Korean time), “The Los Angeles Dodgers have officially signed a contract with promising Korean pitcher Jang Hyun-suk for 900,000 dollars (approximately 1.18 billion Korean won).”
On the same day, Jang Hyun-seok’s management company, Ricoh Sports Agency, officially announced that “Jang Hyun-seok signed a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers for a contract worth 900,000 dollars.”
The Los Angeles Dodgers have built a lot of relationships with Korean players. Major league pioneer Park Chan-ho (50), Seo Jae-eung (46), and Choi Hee-seop (44) played an active part for the Dodgers. “Korean Monster” Ryu Hyun-jin (36, Toronto Blue Jays) also transferred to the Toronto Blue Jays after performing well with the LA Dodgers. Currently, Choi Hyeon-il (23), a pitcher from Seoul High School, is playing for the Dodgers as a minor leaguer.
Through Ricoh Sports Agency, Jang Hyun-seok said, “It is an honor to join the prestigious Dodgers team.”
Jang Hyun-seok is a right-handed fireballer with a strong physique of 190 cm and 90 kg. He pitched in 7 games (27⅓ innings) this year, going 3-0 with an earned run average of 0.33. Above all, his fast ball, which reaches a maximum speed of 157 km per hour, is considered his strength. Based on this great success, he was also named on the list of the national baseball team for the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games scheduled to be held in September. At the time, Jo Gye-hyun, chairman of the KBO Power Reinforcement Committee, explained the background of the selection, saying, “The Asian Games are amateur competitions. Jang Hyun-seok has been checked since March of this year, and he received the highest score in pitch, speed, and game management.”
Initially, Jang Hyun-seok was worried about joining a domestic club or going abroad ahead of the KBO League 2024 rookie draft. If he entered the draft, he would be wearing the Hanwha Eagles uniform with the first pick. However, in the end, Jang Hyun-seok challenged the major leagues without submitting an application for the KBO draft and signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. After choosing the big league challenge, Jang Hyun-seok said, “I’m sorry to have kept many people waiting in the process of deciding where to go. It was very difficult to decide because both the KBO League and the Major League were dream stages. Eventually, I made up my mind to challenge the major leagues.”
Before Jang Hyun-seok’s future was decided, Major League scout A told Star News, “He is enough talent to challenge the US major league. If you have the will to go, you can go unconditionally. The only problem is the amount. I think it will be nominated,” he said, giving a good evaluation. Another major league scout B also analyzed, “There are some evaluations that it is more regrettable than last year, but it is difficult to deny that Jang Hyun-seok has the potential to challenge the major leagues with the first overall KBO draft.”
◆ Interest in Jang Hyeon-seok, who signed a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the US “An amazing 19-year-old pitching prospect, already throws 97 mph.”The United States is also showing interest in Jang Hyun-suk’s contract. The Dodgers Nation praised him as “Jang is an incredible 19-year-old pitching prospect” and said, “Jang Hyun-seok already throws a fast ball that reaches 97 miles (about 156.1 km). Fastball and curve. “Jang already throws 97 mph, and has a pitch mix that includes a fastball, curveball, changeup, slider and sweeper”.
The Dodgers Nation said of Jang Hyun-seok, “Initially, the KBO rookie draft nomination was strong, but he wanted to play in the United States. And the LA Dodgers gave him that opportunity.” It seems that the Los Angeles Dodgers hope to develop Jang Hyun-suk into a major league star in the future, so I have high expectations.”
“The LA Dodgers have a long history of working with overseas players such as Ryu Hyun-jin, Maeda Kenta (35, Minnesota Twins), and Nomo Hideo (55). And Jang Hyun-sik hopes to follow the same path as them. “It will be very exciting for Dodgers fans to see what Jang Hyun-suk does in the major leagues in the future,” he wrote.
Jang Hyun-seok met with reporters at the 57th Presidential Cup National High School Baseball Championship held at Mokdong Baseball Stadium in Seoul on the 4th and said, “I was really happy when I was selected for the first team. I received it. I have memories of being so happy that my hair went gray. I want to show myself confidently doing well on the mound as much as I was chosen,” he said, expressing his aspirations, “I want to become the best player in the world.”
Meanwhile, the press conference for Jang Hyun-seok joining the Los Angeles Dodgers will be held at the Seoul Dragon City Hotel on the 14th.