[서울신문] Texas starter is’land of opportunity’… Yang Hyun-jong looks like a big leaguer

Yang Hyeon-jong, who beat Bae Bae-jin and signed a contract with the Texas Rangers of the MLB, is showing little hope of fulfilling his dream of standing on the big league mound. In line with the circumstances of the team being rebuilt without a clear selection, Hyunjong Yang’s competitiveness is also highly evaluated.

Dallas Morning News, a Texas regional magazine, ranked Yang Hyeon-jong as the only “positive” (GOOD) out of 16 pitchers who joined the Texas Spring Camp as an invited player on the 14th (Korean time). MLB.com, which announced the news of Yang Hyun-jong’s contract in Texas, also predicted that “Yang Hyun-jong can help increase the Texas pitching power by starting or mid-term.”

On the 14th, CEO Choi In-guk said, “We have decided that Texas is a club that will have the opportunity to demonstrate his skills as much as it has been interested in and watched Yang Hyun-jong from the past posting.” I did it.”

Yang Hyeon-jong, who signed a contract with Texas for up to $1.85 million (about 2,500 million won), was not included in the 40-man roster, but it is possible to enter the starting position due to team circumstances. This is because there are no players who will definitely take the starting position in Texas, which is rebuilding.

Texas had an ERA of 5.32 last season, the 7th worst in the MLB. Because of this, the three pitchers (Kyle Gibson, Mike Poltinevic, and Gohei Arihara) who have moved to reinforce the starting line are not overwhelming. Gibson’s 2-6 last season with an ERA of 5.35 and Poltinevic with 1 loss with an ERA of 16.20, and Kohei is a player who played in Japan until last season and is in a position to challenge like Yang Hyun-jong.

In the end, the key is how competitive Yang Hyeon-jong shows. MBC Sports Plus commentator Song Jae-woo said on the 14th, “The players referred to as Texas starters are the 3rd to 5th starters if they go to other teams.” “Texas has raised prospects in the minor leagues, but no players come up and grow. “The trip to Texas is never bad.”

How Yang Hyeon-jong will play innings at the spring camp can be the criterion for deciding whether to enter the starter. It is common for MLB starters to increase the number of pitches in spring camp. If Hyunjong Yang increases his innings every time he starts, like other starting resources, it can be seen as a positive signal for entering the starting position.

SPOTV commentator Min Hoon-ki also pointed out that “Yang Hyun-jong is a left-hander, and that the competitiveness he has shown at international competitions has been sufficiently proven.”

Reporter Ryu Jae-min [email protected]