Dodgers Win Bid for Ryu-Hyun Jin ($25.7 M)

[davell]

Who? He's a 25 year old lefty from South Korea and he's going to be posted. He hits 93 and ML scouts like the command he has on his change and slider. He's already signed with Boras. In 7 seasons of pro ball in KBO, he's averaged 181 innings and led the league in K's 5 times. BA rated him the 5th best international prospect at the 2009 WBC, right ahead of Cespedes. That's all I got from the article I read, can't post it from my phone. John Manuel has a link to it on his Twitter. At any rate, this is the type of pitching I want us targeting this offseason. Edited October 29, 2012 by davell

[mul21]

Just so I have this straight, there's definitely no spending limit on a guy like this because he's over 23 right?

[davell]

Right. Only difference between this and Japan is just because he gets posted, they don't HAVE to let him come over unless they like the amount of the posting fee. Reading a bit more on him, by the way, he appears to be better than Wei-Yin Chen. The change up is a legit out pitch in the majors and he profiles as a legit 3. The Yanks have shown interest.

[Guest]

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/culturesports/2012/10/29/53/0702000000AEN20121029008151315F.HTML

[UMFan83]

If this guy is legit as the stuff you are finding for this thread, I feel safe in saying the Cubs will be serious bidders for his services. Other than FA, opportunities to use the Cubs financial advantage come few and far between in this new CBA.

[UMFan83]

He's got the body frame of a former Cubs starter/hothead

 

http://www3.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/World+Baseball+Classic+Tokyo+Day+5+0nS_VL7afQBl.jpg

 

http://pds.joinsmsn.com/jmnet/koreajoongangdaily/_data/photo/2012/09/04195653.jpg

[davell]

Yeah, I thought the same thing after seeing those pics. He's listed at 6'2, 215. Proportionally, I guess that's in line.

[SpongeWorthy]

It's the boy scout from Up

[Hairyducked Idiot]

"Hits" 93 means works 89-91, which is consistent with what I saw on some YT videos from the WBC.

[Cubswin11]

"Hits" 93 means works 89-91, which is consistent with what I saw on some YT videos from the WBC.

Yup, which is still slightly above average velocity for lefties. Definitely seems like a guy we'd target, any rough estimates on what the overall investment will be to get him (posting fee + contract)?

[davell]

Saw a scouting report that said he hits 95 and works 90-91. No clue as to what kind of money he'll get. Other than he'll get less than Darvish.

[tfarks]

Looks fatter than 215. Not that it matters.

[KingCubsFan]

Is it a blind posting system like Japan, or more of an auction?

[davell]

Boras also has a guy signed that almost came over last year, named Sook-Min Yoon. He's a RHP that sits at 93, has a solid change and curve, with a hard slider in the mid 80's. He's 26 now and has one more year before he's a FA. No talk yet if he'd get posted this offseason though, as of yet. He won the KBO pitching Triple Crown in 2011. Definitely a guy we'll be hearing about, either this offseason or next, because he wants to pitch in the majors.

[davell]

Is it a blind posting system like Japan, or more of an auction?

I believe the only difference is that just because he's posted, the KBO team has the right to pull him back, if the winning bid isn't to their liking.

[RynoRules]

He looks like the SE Asian Sid Fernandez. If he pitches like him I'd be interested.

[Guest]

David Wells comps abound everywhere.

 

When scouts see Ryu's portly frame, his goofiness and his knack for rising to the occasion, it's not hard to see why he's compared to David Wells.

 

In South Korea, Ryu became the first player to be named the league's rookie of the year and MVP in the same season, as he went 18-6, 2.23 with 205 strikeouts in 202 innings in 2006, leading the league in wins, ERA and strikeouts.

 

Ryu was the star as Korea surprised everyone to beat Cuba and win gold at the 2008 Olympics. He went 2-0, 1.04 in the tournament, including a masterful 8 1/3 innings in the gold-medal winning 3-2 win over Cuba.

 

Ryu played a very important, but slightly subordinate role to Jung Keun Bong at the World Baseball Classic, as the more veteran lefthander was called on to face Japan on three separate occasions (going 2-1) on his way to a World Baseball Classic all-tournament team selection.

 

But Ryu was impressive again at the WBC. He just turned 22, but he already pitches like a veteran. Ryu has four average to above-average pitches, includes a 86-93 mph fastball with late life that he can add and subtract from when needed, a slow curve (75 mph), a tighter slider and a changeup. Already extensively tested in international play, Ryu's biggest asset is his feel for pitching. Scouts have said that he would be a first-round pick if he was in the U.S., and would likely need only a brief period of acclimation before stepping into a big league rotation.

[shnsajax]

Looks like a baby faced Ruben Quevedo.

[mul21]

I see a little bit of Mike Fetters.

[Warpticon]

fat pitcher name.

[ctcf]

Elmer Dessens

[davell]

Cubs, Dodgers, Rangers, Phillies, and Indians have all shown serious interest in Ryu, requesting documentation and things. Brett has an article up at BN, can't link from my cell. Damn, the Dodgers need to go away.

[Banedon]

fat pitcher name.

 

Rod Beck

Antonio Alfonseca

David Weathers

[Brett]

Cubs, Dodgers, Rangers, Phillies, and Indians have all shown serious interest in Ryu, requesting documentation and things. Brett has an article up at BN, can't link from my cell. Damn, the Dodgers need to go away.

 

Yay for self-promotion in a way that is actually, technically, just helping out Dave!

 

http://www.bleachernation.com/2012/11/06/the-cubs-are-one-of-five-teams-showing-concrete-interest-in-korean-lefty-hyun-jin-ryu/

[Guest]

Cubs, Dodgers, Rangers, Phillies, and Indians have all shown serious interest in Ryu, requesting documentation and things. Brett has an article up at BN, can't link from my cell. Damn, the Dodgers need to go away.

 

Yay for self-promotion in a way that is actually, technically, just helping out Dave!

 

http://www.bleachernation.com/2012/11/06/the-cubs-are-one-of-five-teams-showing-concrete-interest-in-korean-lefty-hyun-jin-ryu/

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