Rangers To Sign Korean Two-Way Player Seong-Jun Kim

The Rangers have an agreement to sign Korean righthander/shortstop Seong-Jun Kim for $1.2 million, pending a physical. After graduating from high school this year, Kim is expected to make his official pro debut with the Rangers in games in 2026. 

Kim, who was expected to be a high pick in the Korea Baseball Organization draft, has split time as a pitcher and righthanded-hitting shortstop at Gwangju Jeil High and will get the opportunity to start his career as a two-way player.

Kim is an athletic, 6-foot righthander with a loose arm, easy delivery and a fastball that has touched 95 mph with feel for a hard slider and a splitter. His athleticism translates well on the mound, the place some scouts think is his most likely future at higher levels, but it’s also evident at shortstop. He defends his position well with a strong arm and should stick at shortstop if he does remain a hitter at higher levels. 

The Rangers had previously been trying to sign righthander Roki Sasaki, but after Sasaki chose the Dodgers, the Rangers had more than $2 million left in their 2025 international bonus pool for the current signing period that runs through Dec. 15. Now $1.2 million of that pool space will go to Kim.

Naver Sports first reported the agreement.