RHP Jun-Seok Shim officially announced by Pittsburgh Pirates as latest signing
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The Pirates are making their mark on the international stage.
On Thursday, the club signed the 10th-best prospect in this year's international draft class. This is the second high-end prospect signed in the last two weeks.
This week's signing was a pitcher from South Korea who can throw 100 miles per hour. Jun-Seok Shim is an 18-year-old power pitcher who's ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the international draft class. It's fitting that he landed with the Pirates, as Shim's favorite player growing up was former Pittsburgh draft selection Gerrit Cole.
The Pirates have signed two of the top 26 players internationally, including Carlos Mateo, a 17-year-old outfielder from the Dominican Republic.
As for Shim, he has a long way to go to make his debut at PNC Park, but he's excited to start his career with the Pirates.
The Pirates have been good internationally over the last three years, as the team has signed four non-drafted prospects ranked in the top 12. The Dodgers are the only other organization to sign so many.