Choi Byung-yong, an unknown quantity in the KBO Draft, has been selected by the San Diego Padres. Can he grow into the ‘successor’ to Kim Ha-seong?
The Padres selected Byung-yong Choi with the 611th overall pick in the 20th round of the 2023 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on June 11 (ET) at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, USA.
Born in 2002, Choi is a 6’3″ (approximately 189.5 cm) infielder who graduated from Shinil High School. In 23 games as a junior, Choi hit .282 with one home run, 14 RBIs, 14 runs scored, and a .774 OPS, but was not selected by any of the 10 teams in the KBO First-Year Player Draft. After going undrafted, Choi opted to go overseas.
Choi headed to New Mexico Military Institute in New Mexico, USA, where he played 58 games in the collegiate league this year, batting .448 with 15 home runs, 80 RBI, 71 runs scored, 45 walks, 10 stolen bases, and a 1.429 OPS. He was selected in the 20th round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft in the “last train” to San Diego.
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego Vice President of Scouting Chris Kemp said, “Byung-yong Choi really likes our organization and Kim. He’s a left-handed hitter with a nice swing, a big infielder,” Kemp said, adding, “Byung-yong Choi loves San Diego and wants to be here. We think he can hit really well, and we’re happy to have him.”
The success of “Korean Superstar” Chan-ho Park was a key factor in the rise of Korean players in the United States. After signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers through an international amateur contract while still a student at Hanyang University, Park’s stellar performance in the major leagues sparked the interest of major league teams in Korean players.
At the time, there were not a few players who graduated from high school and tried their hand at the American stage without going through the KBO. Seo Jae-ng, Choi Hee-seop, Kim Sun-woo, and Song Seung-jun are representative. There are also players such as Lee Sang-hoon, Koo Dae-sung, and Lim Chang-yong who challenged the major leagues after playing in the KBO. Of course, not all of the players who made it to the United States were smiling, but it was Kim “BK” Byung-hyun who found success here.바카라사이트
After Park Chan-ho and Kim Byung-hyun proved that Koreans could work in the starting rotation and bullpen, the trend continued with Ryu Hyun-jin (now with the Toronto Blue Jays). Since donning the Dodgers’ uniform, Ryu has been one of the best players in the major leagues. It’s a trend that’s now being passed on to younger players.
A prime example is the Los Angeles Dodgers, where Park Chan-ho and Ryu Hyun-jin played, and where Choi Hyun-il is currently playing in the minor leagues. The Pittsburgh Pirates, where Choi Ji-Man and Bae Ji-Hwan are still active, and Park Hyo-Jun and Kang Jeong-Ho have been in the organization, signed “160 kilometer monster” Shim Jun-Seok to an international amateur contract before this season.
Starting in the outfield was Choo Shin-soo (now with the SSG Landers). Although there are no Korean outfielders now, Lee Jung-hoo picked up the baton from the