Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) star shortstop Ha-seong Kim, who earned WBSC Premier12 2019 All-World Team honours, is likely to explore his possibilities of playing for a Major League Baseball (MLB) club in 2021, according to multiple news report out of Korea.
Slick-fielding Kim, who will turn 25 on 17 October, committed just one error in eight games in the Premier12, while going 9-for-27 (.333) at the plate, including a home run against Japan's Shun Yamaguchi in the final of the elite global tournament.
He is currently playing in his seventh season with the Kiwoom Heroes and is considered the league's top prospect.
Other KBO players who could explore their possibilities with MLB clubs are left-handed starting pitcher Hyeon-jong Yang and left-handed slugger Sung-bum Na.
Yang went through the posting system before the 2015 season. The Kia Tigers, his KBO team, turned down an offer by an MLB club believed to be the Texas Rangers. A 145 KBO game-winner over 14 years, the 32-year old veteran won't need to go through the posting system.
Yang was the top starter for Korea at the WBSC Premier12 2019. He appeared in three games, including the final against Japan.
Na is a 31-year, six-time KBO All-Star, and gold-glove center fielder who suffered a serious knee injury in 2019. He will pursue an MLB-career through top-agent Scott Boras.
Sung-bum Na was part of Korea's team that won the inaugural WBSC Premier12.
The 2020 posting schedule runs from 10 November to 14 December. The MLB club that reaches an agreement with a KBO player will need to pay a cover fee to the KBO club based on the deal's total worth.
