Touted Korean pitcher Shim signs with Pirates
The momentum the Pirates have built on the international free agent market over the past few years continued Sunday, Pittsburgh’s latest push headlined by the signing of South Korean pitcher Jun-Seok Shim.
On the first day of this year’s international signing period, the Pirates added an 18-year-old prospect who was widely regarded as the best pitcher available.
With a fastball sitting in the mid-to-upper-90s and topping out at 100 mph, Shim was expected to be the top pick in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) draft until he withdrew his name.
MLB Pipeline considers Shim the 10th-best prospect in this year’s class.
This follows the Pirates in 2022 adding two of the top 12 prospects available in outfielder Tony Blanco Jr. (No. 11) and shortstop Yordany De Los Santos (No. 12).
“[Shim] has the traits to be developed as a potential middle- to top-of-the-rotation type pitcher but the power, aggressiveness and makeup to be a shut-down, end-ofgame type pitcher,” said Pirates director of international scouting Junior Vizcaino. “He has a plus fastball and is continuing to develop his secondary pitches.”
In 2021, the Pirates signed outfielder Shalin Polanco (MLB Pipeline No. 10 and no relation to Gregory) for $2.35 million, the second-largest bonus for a non-drafted international free agent in franchise history. De Los Santos got a $1.2 million bonus, Blanco $900,000.
The amount of Shim’s bonus is not yet known.
In addition to Shim, the Pirates signed 17-year-old outfielder Raymond Mola out of the Dominican Republic.
Mora was considered the 26th-best international free agent available by MLB Pipeline.
Given his considerable skill set, it will be interesting to see how quickly Shim can transition to affiliated ball — and it could be quick.
In addition to a firm fastball, he throws a 12- to- 6 curve that has a 60 grade on scouts’ 20-to-80 scale (same as his fastball). The control and break are supposed to be excellent. Shim also throws a slider and changeup to round out his four-pitch mix.
“Jun Seok has been on our radar for a few years, and we are fortunate with the opportunity to bring him into the organization,” said Pirates assistant director of player personnel Max Kwan. “He has quality power traits coupled with a strong ability to spin the ball. We are really excited to collaborate with Jun Seok on his development to the big leagues.”
Velocity is seemingly only one part of Shim’s skill set. The young pitcher has been compared to Chan Ho Park, a former major league Pirates fans will probably recognize, because of Shim’s poise, makeup and fastball.
Shim (6-4, 215) is known for his clean arm action and athleticism, traits indicating there’s another level he could achieve once arriving in the United States.
Similar to Blanco, Mola has a larger frame and is expected to have power to all fields as he matures. His hit tool is the loudest, while he’s considered an average defender and baserunner.
“He’s an aggressive hitter who can drive the baseball to both gaps and turn on the baseball with power,” Vizcaino said of Mola. “He has an aggressive approach to his defensive play and on the bases.”
International free agency used to start in July but was flexed to January during the pandemic. Each team has a set amount it can spend, with the Pirates entering the year with a predetermined $5,825,500.
They’re one of seven teams with that amount, which was determined when they received a pick in Competitive Balance Round A of the 2022 MLB draft. Eight teams had a pick in Competitive Balance Round B and will start with $6,366,900.
One new/old wrinkle for this international season is that teams are once again allowed to trade bonus pool money, something that had been prohibited the past two classes.
Among the other highlights from the class:
• Catcher Jonathan Rivero, a 17-year-old out of Venezuela, is known for his speed and quickness behind the plate.
• Pitcher Carlos Castillo, a 16-year-old out of Venezuela, has starter traits and a plus feel for the strike zone with all of his pitches.
• Venezuelan Miguel Rodriguez, also 16, has a quick bat and above- average speed, projecting as a top-ofthe-order type outfielder.
• In the Dominican, Carlos Mateo, 17, throws a fastball in the upper 90s. So does Bladimir Pichardo. Both must work on secondary stuff.
• Middle infielder Antonio Pimentel is another leadoff type, while David Matoma — a 16-year-old pitcher from Uganda — gives the Pirates an off-the-board pick.
The Pirates opened the international period with a signing ceremony Sunday in Venezuela. They’ll hold one Tuesday in the Dominican Republic.
Other names to round out the Pirates’ class: pitchers Nicolas Carreno, Ronal Gomez, Janderson Linares, Keury Almonte, Dariel Francia and Dioris Martinez; catchers Angel Perez and Joseph Sequera; infielders Joenelly Van Der Linden and Gimenez Yosmar; and outfielders Andres Villafane, Angel Aquino and Cristian Jauregui.