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XXVIII U-18 Baseball World Cup 2017 - Official Payoff

U-18 Baseball World Cup stars are turning pro

U-18 Baseball World Cup stars are turning pro
29/09/2017

Players who starred at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2017 are receiving attention from pro leagues in the USA (MLB), Japan (NPB) and Korea (KBO)

After MLB Atlanta Braves announced the signing of Korea shortstop Bae Ji Hwan, more players starring at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2017 are getting attention from professional clubs.

The KT Wiz of the KBO (Korea Baseball Organization, the top pro league in Korea and a WBSC member) drafted pitcher Kang Baek Ho (cover pitcture by Christian J Stewart). Due to the fact he can dominate as a pitcher and hit for power, Kang is known as “The Otani of Korea”. Shohei Otani is a super star pitcher and slugger for the Nippon Ham Fighter of NPB (Nippon Pro Baseball, another proud WBSC member), the top leagues of Japan.
Kang Baek Ho will receive a signing bonus in the range of US$ 400,000.

Kang Baek Ho autographed picture

After winning for The Netherlands European titles in the U-15 and U-18 age brackets, right hander Donny Breek and his heater didn’t go unnoticed at the U-18 World Cup (he pitcherd 16.1 innings, allowing only 2 earned runs).
Breek signed a contract for MLB Minnesota Twins, following the steps of other Dutch pitchers as Alexander Smit, Tom Stuifbergen and Loek Van Mil.
“I knew I would receive offers, but didn’t imagine it would have happened so fast” said Breek at a press conference in Almere, The Netherlands.
The amount of the signing bonus hasn’t been disclosed.

Donny Breek during the U-18 World Cup (James Mirabelli-WBSC)

There’s much anticipation about Japan’s Amateur Draft, that will be held on October 26. High School super star Kotaro Kiyomiya (a left hander who hit 111 homers while playing for Waseda Jitsugyo High School) said in a press conference he wants to turn pro immediately. Had he attended University, he wouldn’t be eligible for NPB Amateur Draft until 2021.
Kiyomiya played first base for Samurai Japan at the U-18 World Cup and has already drawn comparison to former New York Yankees great Hideki Matsui.

Kotaro Kiyomiya displays power during the U-18 World Cup (Christian J Stewart-WBSC)