The ‘biggest name in high school baseball’ Jang Hyun-seok (19, Masan Yongmago High School) has finally donned a Los Angeles Dodgers jersey. A grand induction ceremony marked the official anchor of his journey to the United States.안전놀이터
At the signing press conference held at Seoul Dragon City in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the 14th, Jang Hyun-seok said, “The Dodgers have been watching me for a long time. I knew about their interest before, but I didn’t think about signing. I’m honoured to wear a Dodger uniform like this,” he said with a wide smile.
Jang Hyun-seok, a right-handed pitcher born in 2004, is considered a top prospect. His fastball, which reached a maximum speed of 157 kilometres per hour, caught the attention of KBO and major league scouts last year. He also has a quality curveball, which he used to great effect this season, going 3-0 with a 0.93 ERA in nine games (29 innings).
The press conference began with a congratulatory video from Dodgers officials. “We are thrilled to welcome Hyun-seok Jang to the Dodgers family,” said President Andrew Friedman. We are confident that his talent, coupled with our talented coaches, will lead him to a bright future. We can’t wait to welcome him to Dodger Stadium.” Director of Minor League Pitching Rob Hill said, “Congratulations to Jang. I’ve watched him for a long time, and I’m looking forward to seeing him reach his full potential.”
Hyun-seok Jang speaks during the Los Angeles Dodgers’ introductory press conference on Thursday. News1
Dressed in a suit with the Dodgers’ signature blue tie and wearing the official uniform, Jang explained his decision by saying, “The team officials showed me analytical reports of my past and present pitches. I also chose the Dodgers because they are familiar to Korean players, and I heard that they are the best at developing pitchers among the 30 teams.”
In the past, the Dodgers have produced some of the best pitchers in Korean baseball, such as Park Chan-ho and Ryu Hyun-jin. Jang hopes to follow in their footsteps. “I want to be a starting pitcher for the Dodgers like Park Chan-ho and Ryu Hyun-jin,” Jang said. “I hope to move up to the major leagues soon, but it’s hard to say when, but I want to be a major league starter who plays for the Dodgers for a long time like Clayton Kershaw,” he added.
Standing at 1.90 metres tall and weighing in at 90 kilograms, Jang also wears the Korean flag ahead of the Hangzhou Asian Games in September. Although he is still in high school, he has been recognised for his excellent pitches and has rubbed shoulders with professional seniors.
LA Dodgers scout Dean Kim, director of scouting for the Pacific region John Dibble, Jang Hyun-seok, and Rico Sports Agency CEO Lee Ye-lang (from left) hold a press conference on Thursday. News1
John Dibble, director of scouting for the Pacific region, said, “I’ve been watching the seven scouts since they were in middle school. “Our conditioning coach recently travelled to Korea to check on Jang Hyun-seok’s physical condition. As soon as he gets his visa, we will set up a future date. We will develop Jang Hyun-seok into a great player.”
“We are positive about Jang Hyun-seok’s participation in the Asian Games, as well as the WBC and other international competitions in the future. We will continue to support him.”
Jang Hyun-seok, who is still in high school, will stay with his teammates until the final national tournament of the season, the Bonghwangdae, which starts on the 18th. He will then continue to build his body as the Asian Games team will be called up at the end of next month.