The Pittsburgh Pirates are close to signing 18-year-old pitcher Shim Jun-seok (심준석), considered among the best prospects in baseball and the top Korean prospect, according to ESPN KBO insider Daniel Kim. A profile, from MLB.com:
The scouts that have seen Shim pitch make a case that he is the best arm in this year’s international class.The international signing period starts on January 15.
What’s not to like?
He throws a fastball that tops out at 100 mph and consistently sits in the 94-96 range. He features a true 12-6 curveball and shows good command of all of his pitches. What’s more, the big and strong-bodied Shim has been praised for his clean arm action and his athleticism.
It’s also worth noting that his slider and changeup are also emerging and could eventually develop into plus pitches in the future. He’s been compared to a young Chan Ho Park since his early teens because of his poise, makeup and fastball.
Kim is currently eligible to sign with a Major League team but will likely wait until the start of the next international signing period in January to sign.