Kim Sung-joon is an 18-year-old Korean baseball prospect who many have been calling the “Korean Ohtani” because of his skills as both a pitcher and a hitter. Kim appears to have opted to forego the KBO draft and instead begin his professional baseball career in the minor leagues with the Texas Rangers.
The Rangers signed Kim to a contract that included a $1.3 million signing bonus, according to baseball reporter Francys Romero on X, and it is unclear where he will begin his professional baseball journey. It would seem likely for Kim to begin in the Arizona Complex League, but nothing has been confirmed quite yet.
Kim bats right-handed and pitches from the right side as well. The phenom has drawn comparisons to Shohei Ohtani in high school and is taking a path rarely taken by skipping the KBO draft. If more players follow in his footsteps, KBO baseball may take a toll in quality. But if the players stick in Major League Baseball, their careers will be far more fruitful among the best players in the world.
With Kim being just 18 years old, the expectation of immediate impact is non-existent, and his transition to the US will give him the time to get comfortable and gain experience at the professional level. The Rangers are looking to build upon the team that won the World Series just two years ago, and they hope Sung-joon is going to be an impact player for their future.
Entering Friday, the Rangers’ April woes have leaked into May as the team sits in fourth place in the American League West. The timeline is interesting for Kim. If he performs in the minors and the Rangers’ struggles continue, he may land on the major league roster sooner rather than later.
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