Pitcher Jang Hyun-seok, who contributed to the gold medal win by the South Korean baseball team at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, has been ranked 17th among prospects for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Major League Baseball's official website, MLB.com, unveiled its ranking of top 30 prospects from all 30 major league teams on the 6th (Korean time).

Jang Hyun-seok, who is progressing through the Dodgers' minor league system, earned the 17th spot. Jang received scores of 60 for his fastball, 60 for his curve, 60 for his slider, 55 for his changeup, 40 for his control, and a composite score of 45.

Jang Hyun-seok, the ace of Yongma High School and ranked first among high school pitchers, achieved outstanding results over three years in high school with 21 games (68⅓ innings), 6 wins, 3 losses, and an earned run average of 1.84, showcasing his strong pitching with a remarkable 102 strikeouts. Although he allowed 42 walks, his overwhelming pitching ability has led to significant potential being recognized.

Jang Hyun-seok, who was likely to be the first overall pick in the 2023 KBO rookie draft, chose to challenge himself on the American stage, and the Los Angeles Dodgers awarded him a signing bonus of $900,000.

Last year, Jang Hyun-seok appeared in 18 games (36⅔ innings) in the rookie league and Single A, recording 1 win, 3 losses, and an earned run average of 6.14.

The media described Jang Hyun-seok, noting that "standing at 193 cm tall, he throws fastballs at speeds between 151 and 155 km/h and has recorded a top speed of 159 km/h. His primary weapon is the slider, and his changeup is also quite effective."

However, his inconsistent control was pointed out as a drawback. The media stated, "Over the last year, he allowed 27 walks in 36⅔ innings, suffering from control issues. If he can improve this aspect, he has the potential to grow into a solid second starter."

Kansas City Royals' catching prospect Eom Hyung-chan is ranked 29th among prospects on the team. Eom, who played in the rookie league and Single A last year, recorded a batting average of .244 with 3 home runs and 38 RBIs.

Sasaki Rocky from the Dodgers ranked number one overall among prospects for the Dodgers and all 30 major league teams.

On the 5th, Sasaki took the mound as the second pitcher in a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona, following starter Yamamoto Yoshinobu (4 innings, 4 hits allowed, 3 strikeouts, and 2 earned runs). He pitched 3 innings, allowing 2 hits, 1 walk, and no earned runs, striking out 5 batters. Notably, he shocked everyone by throwing a blazing fastball clocked at 160 km/h against the first batter, Noelvi Marte.

Sasaki noted, "I was half excited and half worried before my first major league appearance, but I tried to focus as much as possible once I was on the mound."

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