Red Sox and Twins interested in Korean RHP Suk-Min Yoon
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Profile of Suk-Min Yoon by MLBTR
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/10/free-agent-profile-suk-min-yoon.html
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/10/free-agent-profile-suk-min-yoon.html
Yoon was the winning pitcher in the 2009 WBC semifinal against Venezuela. 6.1 IP, 7H, 4K, 1BB, 2ER, 1HR, 0 doubles, 12 groundouts, 2 flyouts. That was a Venezuela lineup with Miguel Cabrera, Bobby Abreu, Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen and Marco Scutaro.
Only made one appearance in the 2013 tournament and lost to the Oranje: 4.1 IP, 4H, 2K, 1BB (surprise, surprise, it was Xander), 2ER, 0HR, 1 double, 7 groundouts, 2 flyouts.
Those were MLB umps behind the plate for both games, too. Looks like a solid strike thrower who can keep the ball on the ground. Could be a steal as long as he's healthy.
Only made one appearance in the 2013 tournament and lost to the Oranje: 4.1 IP, 4H, 2K, 1BB (surprise, surprise, it was Xander), 2ER, 0HR, 1 double, 7 groundouts, 2 flyouts.
Those were MLB umps behind the plate for both games, too. Looks like a solid strike thrower who can keep the ball on the ground. Could be a steal as long as he's healthy.
Scott Boras indicated the Red Sox are one of "many teams" interested in S. Korean pitcher Suk-min Yoon and says "we'll know more in 10 days"
— Nick Cafardo (@nickcafardo) January 30, 2014
— Nick Cafardo (@nickcafardo) January 30, 2014
I wonder how signing this RHP trickles down with the rest of the bullpen. Sounds like if he's brought in, it would be a solid commitment.
Suks to be Yoo Dempster?
Suks to be Yoo Dempster?
Yoon is generally considered to have the best slider in KBL. Like a lot of Asian pitchers, he can throw a number of secondary pitches, including a circle change, knuckler, even a palm ball.
His experience as a Korean national, where he threw 7.2 innings at the Beijing Olympics, and 10+ innings at the 2009 WBC should not be ignored. It's a pressure cooker just to get out of the prelims (vs. Japan & Taiwan, long-standing rivals). He should handle the pressures of a big market fairly well.
However, it was his refusal to sit out the 2013 WBC even with a shoulder injury really derailed last year's campaign. He rehabbed until May, when he rejoined the "1st League" (aka majors), but finished with the worst year in his career.
If he is healthy (and Korean press has been cautiously optimistic), then he could provide some valuable innings out of the pen. As recently as 2012, he struck out 137 batters in 153 innings. He also led the league in K's during his outstanding 2011 season, with 178 whiffs in 172+ innings.
His experience as a Korean national, where he threw 7.2 innings at the Beijing Olympics, and 10+ innings at the 2009 WBC should not be ignored. It's a pressure cooker just to get out of the prelims (vs. Japan & Taiwan, long-standing rivals). He should handle the pressures of a big market fairly well.
However, it was his refusal to sit out the 2013 WBC even with a shoulder injury really derailed last year's campaign. He rehabbed until May, when he rejoined the "1st League" (aka majors), but finished with the worst year in his career.
If he is healthy (and Korean press has been cautiously optimistic), then he could provide some valuable innings out of the pen. As recently as 2012, he struck out 137 batters in 153 innings. He also led the league in K's during his outstanding 2011 season, with 178 whiffs in 172+ innings.
The Rangers are interested. Given that they have an open rotation slot with Holland out until midseason, they might be favorites as Yoon likely wants to go to a team where he has a chance to start.
Korean papers are all reporting that Yoon is very close to signing a 2 year, 10m deal with the Orioles.
Here's a montage from a 2011 start that shows damn near every pitch he threw in five minutes. I'm no scout, but he gets a lot of outs on a pitches with strong diving action--can't always tell if they're sinkers, sliders, forkballs, or change-ups (he throws them all). It also looks like he's leaving his curveball up in the zone a lot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6sC0hM4EQM
Here are his four strikeouts against Venezuela in 2009. Looks to me that the first, third and fourth come on a change-up with some pretty nasty screwball-like movement and the second comes on a pretty sharp slider.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oqm3zmzgFqY
And here he is striking out 14 in 2012. Again, we see him getting the outs on a pitch that dive bombs from the hitter's knees.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ne2PNX_zVY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6sC0hM4EQM
Here are his four strikeouts against Venezuela in 2009. Looks to me that the first, third and fourth come on a change-up with some pretty nasty screwball-like movement and the second comes on a pretty sharp slider.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oqm3zmzgFqY
And here he is striking out 14 in 2012. Again, we see him getting the outs on a pitch that dive bombs from the hitter's knees.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ne2PNX_zVY
So, he just posted a selfie on twitter wearing an O's hat. Not sure if that means something. https://twitter.com/bbergong/status/433448213392027648
Rice4HOF said:
I think it means, "O boy! I can't wait to play against the team whose hat I'm currently wearing, and for a truly great team like the Red Sox, with whom I have signed a highly team-favorable deal." I can't imagine what else it could possibly mean.
That's the total value of the deal? All he has to end up being is a serviceable middle reliever for that to be a bargain. Nice signing for the O's.
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