By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Two South Korean prospects, Choi Hyeong-rok and Choi Hyun-wook, joined the U.S. Major Leagues' Minnesota Twins Monday.
A ceremony was held in Seoul for the 18-year-old Gunsan Commercial High School duo signing of contracts with the U.S. side, ranked third in the American League Central division as of Monday.
The terms were not disclosed according to the Twins' rules.
With them joining Minnesota, the number of Korean baseball players who have signed with Major League teams has increased to 35 since 1994 when Park Chan-ho signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Infielder Choi Hyeong-rok, who stands 1.81 meters tall and weighs 87 kilograms, has played shortstop and batted .226 with one homer and nine RBIs in 16 local competitions.
The 1.85 meter lefty Choi Hyun-wook has good speed and has accumulated a .281 batting average with four RBIs in 20 games.
``I am really happy to sign with a Major League team, which is a desire of every baseball player. I will try to play in the big leagues in four or five years,'' Choi Hyeong-rok said in a press conference.
``I thank for the Minnesota Twins and international scout David Kim for selecting me. I will make efforts to raise the reputation of Korean baseball in the United States,'' said Choi Hyun-wook.
``The Twins is relatively weaker in batting than in pitching and we have been traveling all over the world to recruit batters. Although the two players are not fully ready, they are equipped with integrity and strong spirit requisite for a player to succeed in the big league,'' said Kim.
He added: ``It is significant and helpful itself to Korean baseball that Korean players go to the big leagues regardless of them playing in Single-A, Double-A or Triple-As.''
The two Chois will join the minor league spring camp next March after graduating from school.
The Twins, former Washington Senators/Nationals, joined the league in 1901 and changed their name to the Twins in 1961.
Minnesota has won the World Series three times in 1924, 1987 and 1991.
The ballpark is Metrodome and key players are two-time Cy Young winner Johan Santana; catcher Joe Mauer, the first catcher to win the batting title; and Justin Morneau, last season's AL MVP.