![Yang Hyun-jong challenges the big leagues through a 1-year split contract with the Texas Rangers. [연합뉴스]](https://i0.wp.com/pds.joins.com/news/component/htmlphoto_mmdata/202102/15/76eb0405-1b42-4704-809e-96d3b7ac612f.jpg?w=560&ssl=1)
Yang Hyun-jong challenges the big leagues through a 1-year split contract with the Texas Rangers. [연합뉴스]
Yang Hyun-jong, 33, joins the Texas Rangers. Upon entering the MLB, he will be the third Korean player to play in Texas after Park Chan-ho and Choo Shin-soo. It’s not easy. Unlike Ryu Hyun-jin (Toronto Blue Jays) and Kim Kwang-hyun (St. Louis Cardinals), the major league is not guaranteed. It’s a tough challenge. Yang’s challenge process and prospects were summarized in a question and answer format.
Texas and Split Contract Expert Diagnosis
Get up to 2 billion won when you climb the big leagues
There are many right-handed people in the starting team, and the left-handed is advantageous.
- “It’s a split contract. If you play in the big leagues, you are guaranteed an annual salary of 1.3 million dollars (about 1.4 billion won). The bonus according to the performance is $550,000. Therefore, you can receive up to 1.85 million dollars (2 billion won). If you only stay in the minor leagues, you won’t be able to do this. The average triple A player’s annual salary is about $10,000, but a player with a name earns about half of the MLB’s minimum annual salary ($57,500). Yang Hyeon-jong looks to the latter.”
- Texas starting position.
- “The Texas starter WAR (Contribution to Victory versus Substitutes, Fangraph.com) totaled 11.1, ranking 21st out of 30 clubs. First starter Kyle Gibson was sluggish with a short season last year with 2-6 losses and an ERA of 5.35. Still, he won more than 10 wins for 3 consecutive years (2017-19 season). The pitchers who reinforced this winter are Gohei Arihara and Mike Poltinevic. Arihara, who played for Japan’s Nippon Ham, signed a contract for $6.2 million in two years. Poltinevic, who won 13 in 2018, has recently declined, but has an annual salary of $2 million. Jordan Lyles ($16 million in two years), who signed up as a free agent (FA) after the 2019 season, will take the starting spot.”
- Yang’s competitors are.
- “Dane Dunning, Kyle Cody, Wes Benjamin, and Colby Allard. Dunning, whose mother is Korean, played in the big league last year (2 wins, average ERA of 3.97). The number one coordination for the preliminary candidate was 1 win, 1 loss and an average ERA of 1.59 last year in 8 games (5 selections). If there are no injuries, Yang Hyeon-jong is expected to start the season in the minor leagues. It is not easy to show competitiveness in the spring camp as a work visa has not yet been issued. However, except for Benjamin and Allard, they are all right-handed pitchers. The first to fourth starters are also right-handed. This is an advantage for left-handed pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong. Existing starters are also somewhat anxious except for Gibson. This is why Texas coach Chris Woodward suggested the sixth start, or the longman after the start. This is the point of consensus of Yang Hyun-jong, who said,’I chose a club with potential for selection.’
- The success story of the split contract.
- “Beasts Lee Dae-ho and Hwang Jae-gyun entered the big leagues through split contracts. After signing with the Seattle Mariners in 2016, Lee Dae-ho received favorable reviews from the demonstration game and entered the opening game list. Hwang Jae-gyun, who joined the San Francisco Giants in 2017, did not join the 25-man roster, but was called up to the big league in late June. Lee Dae-ho played full-time for one season, and Hwang Jae-gyun played in 18 games.”
- Another thing to note.
- “It wasn’t in the announcement, but it could have included an opt-out clause (breaking the contract if the player wishes). If you don’t get a chance at the beginning of the regular season after the demonstration game is over, you can go to another team. You can return to Korea.”
Reporter Kim Hyo-kyung [email protected]