We all have seen Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani, but have you ever seen a Korean Ohtani? Well, it’s too early to compare and say if the young Korean talent can match the talent of one of the MLB greats. But yes, it’s official; the Texas Rangers finally made an announcement on Sunday about signing an international free agent. Any guesses of the name yet?
We are talking about one of the youngest talents—an 18-year-old two-way player, Seong-Jun Kim. Ever since the Dodgers superstar, Shohei Ohtani, rewrote the script in baseball with his two-way play, every team has been looking for a player who can serve two ways, both as a hitter and a pitcher. And now, the Rangers must be hoping that they have gotten the one they were looking for. But will he be able to do great?
Guess what, the Texas Rangers’ new recruit, Seong-Jun Kim, has been throwing fastballs in the mid-range of 90 mph and has the ability to hit the ball hard as well. Kim has been signed for a little over $1 million in international bonuses. Hoping to develop him both as a pitcher and hitter, senior director of international scouting and development, Hamilton Wise said, “We believe he has the unique qualities and ingredients to take on that challenge. But more than anything, we’re so excited that this is a player and a person who represents our organization and our values.”
Kim, a shortstop and a right-handed pitcher, is currently in his final year at the Gwangju Jeil High School in South Korea. He is slated to complete his graduation by January 2026. However, he will continue with his training and development plan until he joins the Rangers permanently. He is only one of the few players who preferred signing with a major league franchise rather than playing for the KBO league.
Talking through an interpreter, Seong-Jun Kim remains optimistic of being the best player in the big league. “If I can improve better and earlier, I can be the best player in the big leagues. That’s why I decided to sign with the Texas Rangers,” quite clear from his words. Indeed, Kim’s abilities at shortstop, as well as when batting and pitching, appear to have impressed Hamilton Wise.
Wise was unambiguous in his statement, emphasizing that Kim possesses all the skills required to accept that challenge and advance. “As an organization, we have full intent to develop him as a two-way player.” And it’s not just as a Korean Shohei Ohtani but as a player who can play both ways with perfection.
Can the Korean Ohtani be a great bet for the Texas Rangers?
The Texas Rangers are currently in the third position in the American League West with a 25-23 record. While they are going alright, their scouting team, comprising Hamilton Wise and Andre Park as the scouting supervisor, Joe Furukawa, and Jonny Clum, have been closely monitoring Seong-Jun Kim much before he was signed for the major league. Additionally, they were considering him because they lost a significant opportunity when they lost Roki Sasaki to the Dodgers, which left them with a bonus that they used to purchase Kim.
Credit: MLB.com
However, other than being a two-way player, the 6-foot-2 teenager has shown glimpses of his performance on the mound. He was found throwing fastballs at around 95 mph and also curveballs and sliders. According to Hamilton Wise, Kim throws a splitter that has the tendency to be either a swing or a miss. Thus, the focus remains on improving his ability at shortstop while allowing him to add some more velocity to his pitches.
Not to mention that Kim, who played as a position player, was the MVP of the First Half Weekend League in 2025. He threw a lot of fastballs on the mound and batted at an average of .333 with a 1.015 OPS. While Kim believes that the language barriers, differences in food, and coaching styles may create some challenges, Wise is hopeful that he will do wonders once the resources are made available to him.
While many consider that Kim is more of a pitcher than a hitter, we will have to wait and watch how the Rangers develop him both ways. After all, he has got the mindset, the zeal, and the dedication to make everything possible.
The post Rangers Officially Sign Korean Shohei Ohtani as Highly Coveted Two-Way Prospect Pens Lucrative 7-Figure Contract appeared first on EssentiallySports.