A move to dream of becoming a ‘New Korean Monster’. Masan Yongma High School pitcher Jang Hyeon-seok, who announced that he would advance to the major leagues in the U.S., is likely to sign a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers are expected to invest more than $1 million in down payment.스포츠토토

According to MK Sports coverage, Jang Hyun-seok is close to signing a contract with the Dodgers.

A baseball official familiar with major league circumstances told MK Sports on August 7, “The Dodgers, which secured contract money for international players through a recent trade, decided to aggressively invest in Jang Hyun-seok. He was immediately told that he could invest more than $1 million in down payment. Without waiting until January next year, when international player deposits are reset, the announcement of joining can be made soon. No other major league club can afford to offer a contract as large as the Dodgers,” he hinted.

On August 1, Jang Hyun-seok announced through his agency, “After long consideration, I decided to challenge the major leagues without submitting an application for the KBO draft.”

Jang Hyun-seok said, “I’m sorry for making many people wait while the course of action is being decided. It was very difficult for him to decide because he had dreamed of playing in both the KBO League and the Major Leagues. However, he decided to challenge the major leagues in the end because of his desire to challenge the world’s best stage.”

Jang Hyun-seok is the best pitcher in the third year of high school in name and reality in 2023. Jang Hyeon-seok, who was already considered the best player in the high school level since last year, appeared in 9 games in official competitions this year and recorded 3 wins, undefeated ERA of 0.93, 52 strikeouts and 16 strikeouts, a WHIP of 0.79.

Despite having previously announced that he would advance to the United States, Jang Hyun-seok is participating in the National High School Baseball Championship for the President’s Cup. On August 4, Jang Hyun-seok pitched in relief against Daegu Sangwon High School in the first round (1 inning, 2 hits, 3 strikeouts, 1 walk, 2 runs) and on the 5th, Daejeon High School in the second round (no hits, 1 walk, no runs in 0.2 innings).

Jang Hyun-seok said, “I decided to participate in the Presidential Cup for the sake of the team. I couldn’t have thrown it if I thought of it alone, but I wanted to make a good final result with my friends. The team takes precedence over the individual. I told the coach that way, so I came to the mound for this tournament. I want to throw well in the remaining presidential cup games and win the championship cup,” he said with strength.

Jang Hyun-seok is expected to wait for a relief appearance in the quarterfinals of the tournament held at Mokdong Stadium on the 8th at 11:00 am.

After Jang Hyun-seok decided to advance to the United States, he continued negotiations with major league clubs without submitting an application for the KBO draft. Among them, the negotiation table with the Dodgers is said to have made the most progress.

An official in the baseball world said, “Other major league clubs, except for the Dodgers, have a remaining amount of contract money for international players that is difficult to satisfy the players. As of now, the Dodgers is the only team that can offer a contract amount of more than 1 million dollars. Above all, the Dodgers player training system is the highest level among major league clubs. In a few years, a generational change in the starting lineup is also needed, so Jang Hyun-suk’s side must have been more attractive.”

The Dodgers are literally like the ‘National Team’ in Korea. In 2010, following Park Chan-ho in the 1990s, Ryu Hyun-jin performed as a ‘Korean Monster’. There is no more attractive option than this considering that it is a nationally popular club in California, where there are many Korean residents and the climate is mild. The fact that the same Korean player, pitcher Choi Hyeon-il, also belongs to the Dodgers minor leagues, is expected to greatly help Jang Hyun-seok adapt to the American stage.