Hyun-seok Jang, a 12th-grade student at Masan Yongma High School in South Korea, renowned as a ‘high school superstar,’ is set to don the Los Angeles Dodgers uniform in Major League Baseball.
On August 9, Leeco Sports Agency, the management firm representing Hyun-seok Jang, revealed that he has inked a contract with the Dodgers, securing a signing fee of $900,000.
Jang, a 19-year-old right-handed pitcher born in 2004, is a standout figure in Korean high school baseball. He garnered attention last year by hurling fastballs at speeds of up to 157 kilometers per hour (97.5 mph), capturing the interest of both KBO and Major League scouts.
He possesses a quality curveball as well. This season, he maintained an impressive 0.93 ERA (3 earned runs in 29 innings) across nine games. In the ongoing 57th President’s Cup, he has pitched a total of one and two-thirds innings across two games, conceding two runs on two hits while striking out three.
Standing at 1.90 meters (6 feet 3 inches) tall and weighing 90 kilograms (200 pounds), Jang also secured a spot in the Korean national baseball team for the Hangzhou Asian Games in September. Despite his high school status, his exceptional pitching abilities have led him to engage with professional players. This caught the attention of Major League Baseball, with several clubs showing interest in signing him.
The race to secure his signature became a three-way contest, with the Dodgers, Texas Rangers, and Pittsburgh Pirates all expressing interest. Among them, the Dodgers have been the most active. Currently, most teams have limited resources allocated for signing international players. The Dodgers have stretched their budget to secure Jang’s signature.
“I feel honored to become a part of the esteemed Dodgers organization. I am committed to enhancing my skills and performance as they have chosen me,” Jang conveyed through his agency.
The Dodgers have previously been the home to Korean Major League players, including Chan Ho Park, Hee-Seop Choi, and Hyun Jin Ryu. With a well-established Korean American community, the Dodgers are often regarded as a favorable environment for Korean players to adapt to.
Meanwhile, Hyun-seok Jang’s official press conference to mark his association with the Dodgers is scheduled to take place at the Seoul Dragon City Hotel on August 14.
BY BONGJUN KO [ko.bongjun@joongang.co.kr]
