I asked the professional scout if I could really be the second Otani to go to the U.S. after receiving a gasp sound

May 10, 2025

Sportschosun DB

"Both are talented, but..."

Attention is also focusing on whether a world-class player like Ohtani (LA Dodgers) can come out.

The main character is Kim Seong-jun, a third grader at Gwangju Il High School. It was known that he recently agreed to sign a contract with the Texas Rangers in the U.S. Major League Baseball, which became a big topic.

It is not unusual for young and promising players to join hands with major league clubs, but in the case of Kim Sung-joon, the down payment is reportedly well over $1 million. That's how much the Texas club valued the player's future. In addition, it is unconventional that the negotiations have been concluded with a certain guarantee for the two-way business.

Players who are good at baseball from an early age are both good pitchers and batters. But it works at the school level, and it's not easy to be a top class in both professionals. Even if only one side is dug in to death, the chances of success are slim. In the case of Ohtani, who wrote the myth of 「Idolryu」 in the Major League, I can only describe it as a talent from God.

But not the KBO League, but the Major League, where the best baseball players from all over the world gather, is challenging the title of '2 Ohtani'? Will it be realistic.

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For now, the possibility seems sufficient. Last year, when Kim Sung-joon was a second grader, he was able to see both plays in person at the Blue Dragon Open. Originally, the main position was shortstop, but he gave a third-year senior a shortstop position and played as a first-third baseman, but he also had batting talent and strong shoulders in defense. In the second half of the game, he came out as a pitcher, but it was impressive to see him spray the ball over 150km very easily.

So I asked what kind of player Kim Sung-joon was and scouts from three professional clubs who watched him for a long time on the field. Then the first question. If Kim Sung-joon appeared in the KBO rookie draft, would he be overwhelmed enough to be confirmed as the No. 1 overall player unconditionally.

The scout for club A was a clear player in either the first or second position" he evaluated. The scout of club B is also in the top two unconditionally. Many teams would have thought of it as the No. 1 candidate, but the reason why I said it was the top 2 is because if a team that needs a professional pitcher has the No. 1 nomination right, there is a possibility that they will think of another player." Club C Scout was named one of this year's drafts 'Big 3'. It is a player reviewed by all teams. However, it is not to the level where we can be sure that it is unconditionally the first priority.

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A sea that everyone acknowledges is a really talented and attractive player in both two-tars. However, if the line is drawn in advance that both talents cannot be displayed in professionals, the value may decrease. In the eyes of experts, it is not easy to succeed in the KBO League and before the Major League. The scout of club B said "The ball is fast. But it's light. Simply put, it's bullpen style. Therefore, it will not be easy to work as a two-timer." In order to become a 'diryu', he must start like Ohtani and play as a designated hitter in games where he does not play as a pitcher. If you throw it to the bullpen or throw a pitcher, and defend the fielders, they say you can't physically withstand it.

Then, which talent do they value more, pitcher or batter. The scout of club A seems to have a high chance of success as a fielder. He is a player who can become the 'second Kim Do-young'. He has the quality of a large shortstop. As a pitcher, I throw up to 153 kilometers, but I can see the limitation that I didn't play the role of a pitcher professionally."

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Scouts from club B are all good, but I see them as fielders. First of all, he has good defense basics and his shoulders are really strong. Until last year, there was a question mark on the batting, but he has improved every step since he became a third grader" he said. The scout of club C said "The strength of a pitcher is to throw a fast ball into the zone without shaking. As a batter, he has good power compared to his physique. The bat speed is also fast. His strength is that he plays infield positions. Personally, I think it will be very important for the future of the player to decide which way to focus and nurture it.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.