By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
U.S. Major League teams will hold a tryout in South Korea to find young players the domestic teams might have missed.
The PrimeSport International, an Anaheim-based sports agency, announced Thursday that five or six scouts from the Chicago Cubs, the Minnesota Twins, the Cleveland Indians, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Seattle Mariners would hold tryouts at Sungkyunkwan University ballpark in Seoul from Oct. 1 to 5.
There were several tryouts hosted by the big league teams in Korea in the 1990's.
But it was held only to take promising players to the Major League Baseball (MLB).
That kind of criticism, however, is not likely to arise this time.
Unlike other tryouts eyeing young prospects, this one is for picking up high school or university graduate-to-bes, who were not selected by the eight teams from the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) in the draft, and former professional players released from the minors.
An agency said the tryout gives another chance to those who missed the opportunity
The agency recruited Shinil High School standout Lee Dae-eun for $810,000 (700 million won) in June.
``A slew of Korean baseball players become out of job after graduating from high school or college. This year produced about 700 players but only 55 were chosen. Among undraftees, there are good players. To get opportunities for them, the tryout will be held,'' the person involved with the agency said in a media interview.
Minnesota already picked up three players in August, Seoul High School graduate catcher Jang Jae-hyeong, Gunsan Commercial High School duo infielder Choi Hyeong-rok and outfielder Choi Hyun-wook while Chicago added Lee and outfielder Kook Hae-sung of Incheon High School to its farm system.
The organizers plan to recommend players with good qualities to the U.S. minor leagues or the Taiwanese league.
Players who meet the requirements can participate in the test on 9:00 a.m. on Oct. 1 with individual equipment and two portrait shots.