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| NC Dinos Na Seong-beom’s big league challenge will come to an end… News1 © News1 Reporter Seung-Bae Lee |
Japan’s NPB top pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano (32, Yomiuri)’s big league challenge was missed, and Korean and Japanese star players’ big league challenges through postings are also coming to a close. Now only Na Sung-beom (32, NC) remains.
This year is no different, with the challenges of the big leagues of top Korean and Japanese players in recent years. In the KBO League, Ha-sung Kim and Seong-beom Na started posting, and in NPB, right-handed pitcher Gohei Arihara, outfielder Haruki Nishikawa, and right-handed pitcher Sugano Tomoyuki presented the challenge.
There are a total of 5 people in Korea and Japan. Yang Hyun-jong (KIA) and Japanese right-handed pitcher Hirokazu Sawamura (Chiba Lotte) also challenged the big leagues, but the two players are free agents, so there are no restrictions on posting.
Among the challengers who applied for posting, Kim Ha-seong laughed the most. Ha-sung Kim, who received attention from major league clubs early this month, signed a four-year contract with San Diego Padres for a total of $28 million (up to $32 million including options). It is a large contract that can receive up to $39 million for five years when implementing the mutual option.
Local media praised the potential of infielder Kim Ha-sung, who was capable of attacking at a young age. In addition to San Diego, several clubs showed active interest in Kim Ha-sung, and local media reports that a long-term contract of 5 to 6 years or longer was possible.
Arihara, a right-handed pitcher from the NPB rookie king, also succeeded in the big league challenge. He wore a Texas uniform for a two-year contract last month for a total of $6.2 million.
Arihara, who debuted in Japan’s professional baseball Nippon-Ham in 2015, won the Pacific League rookie of the year. In the next six seasons, he started 129 games and recorded an average ERA of 3.74 with 60 wins and 50 losses. In the 2019 season, he reached the Pacific League multiple wins with an average ERA of 15-8 and 2.46 in the 2019 season, and in the 2020 season, he posted an average ERA of 8-9 and 3.46.
The ability to use a variety of changing balls, such as a cutter and change-up, as well as a high-speed ball, is considered an advantage.
However, the atmosphere is different except for the two players. First of all, Nishikawa, who was evaluated as an outfielder of the Hotajun by NPB earlier this month, failed to sign a contract during the posting period.
Nishikawa, who hit a batting average of 0.306, 5 homers, 39 RBIs and 42 stolen bases this season, failed to attract the attention of big league clubs. It is an analysis that the successive failures of Japanese beasts who entered the big leagues such as Akiyama Shogo (Cincinnati) and Tsutsugo Yoshitomo (Tempa Bay) last year affected the ransom.
And even NPB’s top pitcher Sugano failed to post. At one time, specific recruitment teams such as the New York Mets, the San Francisco Giants, and the Boston Red Sox were discussed, but in the end, no contact was found.
Japanese media analyzes that Sugano hesitated to enter the big leagues due to Yomiuri’s failure to win the Japanese series, uncertainty due to the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) in the United States, and a fall in ransom due to the market downturn.
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| Kim Ha-sung, who signed a contract with the US Major League San Diego Padres, returned to Korea through Incheon Airport on the 2nd. Kim Ha-sung’s management company ASPEC CORPORATION announced on Instagram on the 2nd that “Major Leaguer Kim Ha-sung completed all contracts with San Diego Padres and entered Korea through Incheon Airport this morning.” (Acepec Corporation) |
Only Na Seong-beom remains among the posting challengers. Although Na Seong-beom took on an ambitious challenge after driving NC’s integrated victory last year, the prospect is dark. Apart from specific progress, reports from local media are very rare.
The occasional reports also had a lot of negative evaluations, such as’weak defense’ and’we have injured power’. Since he is an outfielder and not younger, he is not recognized for his presence in the market.
However, Scott Boras, the best agent in the big leagues, is in charge of Na Seong-beom, and the player’s own will is so great that the possibility of a last minute reversal cannot be ruled out.
Na Seongbeom’s posting deadline is until 7 am on the 10th.