[서울신문] Minors are also immortal… Yang Hyeon-jong is running with determination to return the bridge

Last year’s average ERA and control figures fell
Local media “It’s not easy to guarantee a 40-person roaster”

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▲ Yang Hyun-jong.
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Yang Hyun-jong gave up negotiations with the KIA Tigers in order to advance to the US Major League (MLB) and threw the final number of matches. It put everything down to the point of taking up the minor league, but the local media had a pessimistic outlook.

On the 30th, KIA announced on the 30th that “Yang Hyeon-jong announced that he would challenge to advance into the major leagues, and the club also accepted it and concluded the negotiations.” Yang Hyun-jong, who sought to advance to the MLB as a free agent (FA), requested a suspension of negotiations until the 30th, but did not receive an offer in the end, and decided to continue the MLB challenge.

Yang Hyun-jong said that the minor leagues were okay, and went all-in. However, MLB Trade Rumors.com (MTR), which deals with the news related to MLB trade, looked pessimistically, saying, “It is not easy to get a 40-man roster for Yang Hyun-jong.”

MTR said, “Yang Hyun-jong, who made a big success with an average ERA of 2.29 in 2019, threw 172 and 1/3 innings last year to reach an average ERA of 4.70,” said MTR. “Yang Hyun-jong’s strike rate fell from 22.2% in 2019 to 20% in 2020 and walks allowed. The rate has nearly doubled from 4.5% in 2019 to 8.5%.”

It is still unclear whether Yang Hyeon-jong will achieve his dream. The variable is so complicated. The positive part is that last year’s MLB shortened season and the minor leagues took a whole rest. Unlike other minor leaguers, Yang Hyun-jong, who played the full season last year, has no concern about his sense of practice. The durability of throwing more than 170 innings for 7 consecutive years was also guaranteed.

MBC Sports Plus commentator Song Jae-woo said on the 31st, “Due to the aftermath of the coronavirus last year, it is difficult for clubs to judge the players who compete with Hyun-jong Yang. I know it was hurt. It could be helpful enough to withdraw that condition.”

However, the stumbling block still remains. SPOTV commentator Min Hoon-ki said, “The situation in the United States is not so good, and the age of Yang Hyeon-jong and last year’s performance are unfortunate.” “Especially if you go to the minor leagues, it is very difficult to go up to the MLB like the cases of Yoon Seok-min, Hwang Jae-gyun, and Park Byeong-ho.” Even if Yang Hyun-jong fails to enter the US, there is no problem with returning to Korea according to the rules. For this reason, even if Yang Hyeon-jong fails to advance into the US, it is possible to return by simply signing a contract with any team until the opening of the domestic league. However, as the player’s will is firm, the possibility of returning is low for now.

Commissioner Min added, “The US market is moving very slowly, but depending on other player contracts, it may move in a chain,” and added, “The local agent has no choice but to do its best.”

Reporter Ryu Jae-min [email protected]