Shim Jun-seok attended the initiation ceremony held at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA on the 27th (Korean time). Shim Jun-seok, who challenged his dream major league, said, “I still have a long way to go, but I’m really happy to be able to come here. 안전놀이터 I want to come up (to the major league) soon and throw the ball. This journey is a strong motivator for me.” expressed his feelings.
Pittsburgh was serious about recruiting Shim Jun-seok. It started with a YouTube video I found by accident.
Pittsburgh local media ‘DK Pittsburgh Sports’ said, “Pittsburgh discovered Jun-seok Shim, who was a freshman in high school in 2020. Scout Puchan discovered Shim Jun-seok’s pitching video on YouTube and began to pay attention. Due to the COVID-19 situation, Jun-seok Shim’s “I couldn’t see the pitching in person, but there was talk about Shim Jun-seok inside the club. After that, meeting with Shim Jun-seok was a top priority, and after building a relationship for several years, we signed a contract,” he explained.
Shim Jun-seok showed outstanding potential enough to be called the best talent in Korea while attending Deoksu High School. He is excellent at controlling various breaking balls such as fastballs, sliders, changeups, and curveballs that can reach a maximum speed of 161 km/h. He is also highly regarded for his growth potential, comparable to Park Chan-ho, the ‘Korea Express’ who won 124 victories in his big league career, with a sturdy physique of 194 cm and 97.5 kg.
Pittsburgh was sincere with Shim Jun-seok every time. Announcing the 22 players who signed international contracts during the off-season, Shim Jun-seok’s photo was introduced as the main theme.
Also, the rookie, who had just finished his international contract, let him hold the initiation ceremony at his home stadium. The club did not spare any support, such as paying for air tickets and directly inviting all family members. It was a privilege that only selected players could receive, and it was a part of knowing what Pittsburgh thought of Shim Jun-seok.
Like the sincerity shown by Pittsburgh, Shim Jun-seok is highly anticipated. The possibility of skipping the rookie level, which is dominated by players between the ages of 17 and 19, and going directly to Single A comes to mind. There is already a lot of interest in what kind of performance Shim Jun-seok, who has joined Pittsburgh, will show on the American stage and whether he will be able to live up to the expectations of the club.