ML or KBO, Jang Hyun-seok, the biggest name in the draft
Masan Yongma High School’s Jang Hyun-seok (19) revealed his stance on going overseas.
Jang Hyun-seok pitched 3⅓ innings of scoreless relief against Gwangju Gwangjin High School in the 78th Cheongryonggi National High School Baseball Championship at Mokdong Stadium in Seoul on the 19th, giving up one hit, one walk and striking out six. Yongmago pulled off a 4-1 come-from-behind victory thanks to Jang Hyun-seok.
One of the biggest names in this year’s rookie draft, Jang is a highly touted prospect who has the potential to reach the major leagues. With a fastball that easily exceeds 150 kilometers per hour, solid hardware, and a sharp changeup, he has all the ingredients to be an ace. Even in the suspended game, which was actually his second straight start, he threw up to 151 kilometers and touched 154 kilometers on the 18th.
“I can’t answer that yet. I’m not going to comment,” he laughed, adding, “I’m weighing one side or the other, but it’s not a big difference. It’s about 5-5 or 6-4. There are still a lot of tournaments left in the Blue Dragon period, so it’s hard to think about my personal career.”
“I’ll probably decide whether or not to go overseas after the Blue Dragon Games,” Jang Hyun-seok said, “so that I can make a decision without hurting my teammates. My parents always leave everything to my decision. It’s just me who has to decide, but I’m really worried.”
Jang Hyun-seok’s decision to go overseas is also a big concern for KBO fans. In particular, Hanwha, which holds the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s rookie draft, and Doosan, which holds the No. 2 pick, are eagerly awaiting Jang’s decision. If Jang stays in Korea, Hanwha will most likely draft Jang and Doosan will draft Hwang Jun-seo (Jang Chung-go), but if Jang signs with a major league team, Hanwha will draft Hwang Jun-seo and Doosan will be in a quandary.
When asked about the fact that many fans want him to stay in Korea, Jang Hyun-seok said, “I’m always happy to hear that many fans are cheering for me. It means they care a lot about me. I’m glad to think that even high school baseball players have fans,” he said, thanking them for their interest in him. 토토사이트