Shim Jun-seok (19), a great prospect who is about to challenge the US major league, held a ceremony wearing a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform.
On the 27th (Korean time), Shim Jun-seok held a ceremony at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, and wore a Pirates uniform. While the news of the contract agreement was announced on the 16th, the Pittsburgh club also officially announced the contract with Shim Jun-seok through an official press release on the same day.
Junior Vizcaino Pittsburgh International Scouting Director said, “We are delighted to add Jun-Seok Shim to our organization and begin his journey to Pittsburgh. Recruiting a promising player like Shim Jun-seok speaks volumes about our commitment to finding and securing the best talent in the world.”
Pittsburgh Players Officer Max Kwan also said, “Shim Jun-seok is a confident young man who likes competition and wants to take on challenges. We were impressed with his physique, how well he moves and his natural ability to spin the ball.” 스포츠토토
In an interview with local reporters, Shim Jun-seok said, “It was my dream to play in the United States,” and “Gerrit Cole is my role model.” New York Yankees right-handed fireballer Cole was named to Pittsburgh with the first overall pick in the first round in 2011 and played an active role in Pittsburgh for five years from 2013 to 2017.
194 cm 103 kg right-hander pitcher Shim Jun-seok drew attention as a large prospect by spraying the highest 153 km in 2020 when he was a freshman at Deoksu High School. He went 4-1 with an earned run average of 1.42 in 8 school baseball games that year. In 19 innings pitched he struck out 32 catches. He showed a performance that was unbelievable for a 16-year-old pitcher with a 150 km speed ball and a big drop curve.
During his 2nd and 3rd grade he struggled with elbow, back and toe injuries. In 12 games last year when he was a junior, he struggled with an ERA of 5.14 with 2 wins and 2 losses.
However, with a fastball of up to 157 km, the pitch was certain, and Pittsburgh, which had watched Shim since freshman year, decided to scout him. Shim Jun-seok also decides to leave the stable KBO league behind and go straight to the United States, realizing his major league dream in Pittsburgh.