ARLINGTON — So, Seong-Jun Kim, you can throw a fastball in the mid 90’s, you’re a premier hitter at a premier position, you just inked a seven-figure deal and a major league team believes you can handle the rigors of the road you now face.
All great. We’ll circle back to that. But, first, we heard you tried Hurtado Barbecue in your first visit to Texas?
Kim‘s eyes lit up.
“It was amazing,” Kim said Sunday during his introductory press conference at Globe Life Field.
Consider it part of an integration process that the Rangers hope goes smoothly with their teenaged two-way prospect. The Rangers signed Kim, a shortstop and right-handed pitcher, with a little more than $1 million in international bonus and money “full intent” to develop him at both positions according to senior director of international scouting and development Hamilton Wise.
“We believe he has the unique qualities and ingredients to take on that challenge,” Wise said. “But more than anything, we’re so excited that this is a player and a person who represents our organization and our values.”
Kim, who turned 18 earlier this month, won’t graduate Gwangju Jeil High School in Gwangju, South Korea until January but will return home with a training and development plan to follow until he officially joins the Rangers on a full-time basis.
(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
The 6-foot-2, 185 pound prospect spent the majority of his position player time at shortstop and has reached 95 mph on the mound. He throws a slider and a curveball and has “very good feel for both,” according to Wise, and employs a splitter that has swing-and-miss ability. The Rangers want him to retain his agility at the shortstop position and believes he can naturally add velocity as he grows without the need of a significant bulk up.
The Rangers scouting team of Wise, Joe Furukawa (director of Pacific Rim operations), Johnny Clum (assistant director of international scouting) and Andre Park (scouting supervisor) had evaluated Kim for over a year before he chose to sign with a major league team this period. The Rangers had leftover bonus money to spend on Kim after they missed out on Roki Sasaki, and while the Los Angeles Dodgers rookie was a priority, the club kept other avenues open.
Kim, who is the fifth player from his high school to sign with a major league team, chose the Rangers over his native KBO League because of the potentially expedited process to the highest level.
“If I can improve better, and earlier, I can be the best player in the big leagues,” Kim said through Park, who interpreted for him. “That’s why I decided to sign with the Texas Rangers.”
Kim acknowledged that development as a two-way player “is going to be hard” but is prepared for the challenge. Wise believes Kim‘s makeup will be an asset.
“I think that’s the key to this whole thing,” Wise said. “The kid himself is a really impressive young man. We’re very excited about that piece and know it’s the biggest challenge. If he conquers the transition, we have no doubt the talent will play out.”
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