Overview

• Seong-Jun Kim, a Gwangju Jeil High School senior, signed with the Texas Rangers as an international free agent for a reported $1.2 million.
• Kim is a two-way player excelling as both a shortstop and a pitcher, with a 95-mph fastball and a .333 batting average this season.
• He is the first player from his high school to sign directly with an MLB team, skipping the KBO Draft to accelerate his path to the majors.
• The Rangers plan to develop Kim as a two-way player and are preparing logistical and cultural support for his transition to the U.S.
• Kim will complete his final year of high school and officially join the Rangers’ development program in January 2026.