'Surprise'ML status check → beauty challenge? "No discussion"'10 billion is basic?' Will it be a year from now
Nov 01, 2024
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The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) received a request for identification of Kim Hye-sung (25) and Kang Baek-ho (25) from the Major League Baseball (MLB) secretariat on the 31st. 'The player in question is a member of the Kiwoom Heroes and KT Wiz" he said.
Kim Hye-sung is a natural step. Kim Hye-sung expressed her intention to challenge for the Major League ahead of this season.
Kim Hye-sung, who joined the Nexen Heroes (currently Kiwoom Heroes) in the second round (7th overall) in 2017, can play the infield position with excellent defense and has sophisticated hitting talent. It also has a base running sense to steal more than 30 bases.
Kim Hye-sung was preparing the process for entering the U.S. step by step, signing an agent contract with CAA, the agency of Shohei Ohtani (LA Dodgers). This season, he had a successful year with a batting average of .326, 11 homers, 75 RBIs, and an OPS (long hitting percentage + on base percentage) of 0.841.
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If Kim Hye-sung's advance was a scheduled process, Kang Baek-ho has never mentioned his major league challenge, drawing more attention. KT's team also said, `Kang Baek-ho has never talked to the club about his challenge to the major leagues.'
Kang Baek-ho's excellent batting ability is his advantage. In 2018, he joined KT in the second round of the rookie draft (the first overall pick) and played in 802 games in seven seasons, recording a batting average of 377, 121 home runs and 504 RBIs. While playing in 144 games this season, he showed his slugging power with a batting average of 289 and 26 home runs. It also has the advantage of being able to defend the catcher comprehensively.
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If Kang Baek-ho spends a normal year at KT next season without advancing to the Major League, he will be eligible for FA.
As he showed a clear batting ability in his mid-20s, he is likely to emerge as the biggest fish in the FA market. Some have already viewed it as "10 billion or more will be guaranteed unconditionally." If Kim Hye-sung enters the Major League and Kang Baek-ho remains, the recruitment war could get even hotter. Although there are differences in positions and hitting types, there is a high possibility that they will jump into the recruitment race, whether it is large or small, which is a sure means of reinforcing power.
Meanwhile, if Kang Baek-ho, including Kim Hye-sung, wants to post to challenge the Major League, his team will request KBO to post to 30 Major League teams. The 30 MLB clubs can negotiate from 8 a.m. (U.S. Eastern Time) the day after the MLB Secretariat notified the posting until 5 p.m. on the 30th day.
bellstop@sportschosun.com
