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Korean Slugger Jung-ho Kang To Post In December

By Joe D.

November 10, 2014 1 Comment

Jung-ho kang

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that Alan Nero, the agent for the Korean slugging shortstop Jung-ho Kang, said he anticipates his client will be posted shortly after the December Winter Meetings. He joked, “If he were Cuban, he’d get $100 million.”

MLB Trade Rumors spoke to an international scouting director who says Kang doesn’t possess any plus tools, and may profile as a utility guy with good instincts and a little bit of pop.

Sherman points out that there are concerns if Kang would be athletic enough to handle full-time play at shortstop in MLB. Regarding those concerns, Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal recently wrote that while Kang’s arm strength is widely praised, questions remain about his overall defensive capability. He adds that multiple scouts suggest that a move to either second base or third base will be necessary for Kang to secure a regular playing time.

Kang, who turns 28 next April, batted .360/.463/.756 with 33 doubles, 38 home runs, and 107 RBI in 107 games this past season for Korea. However, executives from MLB teams have been dubious about how his power will translate in the States because the competition in Korea is even more inferior than that in Japan, writes Sherman.

The Cardinals are among 6-7 teams that have reportedly shown early interest in Kang. Not sure this is someone that would have any appeal to the Mets, especially with the MLB consensus that he’ll play second or third base in the majors.

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