Seong-Jun Kim, a recent high school graduate from South Korea, has signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers. The 18-year-old pitcher will receive a signing bonus of $1,200,000.67 as part of the deal.
Significance of the Signing
Kim’s achievement is significant not only for his individual success but also because he is one of five players from Gwangju Jeil High School to sign with an MLB team. Notable players from this school include:
- Byung-Hyun Kim: Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1996, he played in the major leagues for several years before returning to South Korea.
- Hee-Seop Choi: Drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1999, he played for several teams before retiring due to injuries.
- Jae Weong Seo: Drafted by the Houston Astros in 2003, he played briefly in the major leagues before returning to South Korea.
- Jung Ho Kang: Signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent but did not play professionally until after serving time in military service.
The signing bonuses received by these talented young athletes demonstrate that MLB teams are investing heavily in international talent at all levels of their organizations.
Market Context
According to data from Baseball-Reference.com, there have been no other players who have signed contracts worth more than $1 million since July 2nd last year when they turned eighteen years old or older. This suggests that Seong-Jun Kim’s contract may be one of only a handful worth over $1 million this year alone.
Future Prospects
In addition to his impressive signing bonus, Seong-Jun Kim will likely face stiff competition for roster spots within the Rangers’ organization as he works towards making it onto their active roster in future seasons.
It remains unclear how long it will take him to reach the professional baseball level or what role he’ll eventually play once there.
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