Scouts from more than 20 domestic and international clubs gathered to watch Jang Hyun-seok, the ‘biggest fish’ in the Cheongryonggi tournament.
Strikeout show with perfect ‘sweeper’ on fastball ‘up to 154 kilometers’ through rainstorms
MLB club official “already met with Jang Hyun-seok’s side”
Game 2 of the Cheongryonggi National High School Baseball Championship between Masan Yongmago and Gwangju Promoters at Mokdong Baseball Stadium today (Nov. 18).
Many scouts gathered in the stands behind the catcher despite the heavy rain to see Jang Hyun-seok (Masan Yongmago, 3rd grade), the “biggest fish” among this year’s pro prospects. Scouts from more than 10 Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona, Philadelphia, and Kansas City, as well as Korean professional teams, were eager to see Jang’s every move.
“We’ve already had one meeting with Jang Hyun-seok,” a scout in charge of Asia for the National League’s A’s told KBS. “I met with Jang Hyun-seok’s agent, Lee Ye-ran, and the head of Ricoh Agency Sports, and we talked about entering the major leagues,” he said.
“I was impressed by his confidence,” the scout recalled, “and he was aware of the fact that he was ‘number one’ at his current level.”
In today’s game, Jang responded to a balk protest from the opposing bench by letting the ball drop out of his hand and putting his index finger to his mouth after striking out. A scout from Team A commented, “It may be controversial in Korea, but from the perspective of overseas teams, it’s not a big deal,” and “it’s not a point deduction.”
Jang Hyun-seok proved his worth as the “biggest fish in the sea” in his short appearance. He came on with the bases loaded in the bottom of the second inning and pitched 2.1 innings of perfect ball, striking out five, until the game was suspended in the fifth.
Due to the rain that fell throughout the game, his fastball was a little slower than usual, topping out at 94.5 miles per hour (152 km/h) for domestic speed guns and 94.5 miles per hour (152 km/h) for international scouts, but the power was still there. His new “sweeper,” which he used to get four of his five strikeouts, stood out, as did his ability to work the count by lowering the velocity of his fastball to 142-400 km/h when the situation called for it.
A scout from another major league team who watched the game commented on Jang’s current skills, “He could be drafted in the top 100 picks in the third round if he were to enter the major league draft right now.” In the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, 카지노사이트킴 which attracts more than 1,000 players each year, a “third-round, top-100 pick” is considered to be a top 10 percent evaluation.
As for the comparison to last year’s No. 1 pick, Kim Seo-hyun (Hanwha), he said, “His high school performance and wild, primal pitching style are similar, but I think he has more potential for growth because he has fewer ups and downs and better physical condition.”
With the confirmation of the connection between Jang and the major league clubs, interest in Jang’s selection is growing. The first pick in the Korean draft is a sure thing