Rangers sign RHP Tae-kyeong Ahn from Korea

by pbpsean on Aug 11, 2008 1:05 PM CDT

http://eastwindupchronicle.com/rangers-check-in-with-first-korean-amateur-signing/

The Korean newspaper Il Gan Sports is reporting the Texas Rangers have signed Ahn Tae-kyeong, a right handed pitcher from Busan High School. It’s the team’s first amateur signing in Korea. The paper reports the signing bonus is $800,000.

Ahn is a third year senior at Busan and according to the newspaper throws four pitches, including a fastball that touches 93 MPH on the radar gun and a cut fastball. He stands at about 6 ft. 1 in. and typically throws at a 3/4 angle.

Looks like an interesting prospect.

What caught my attention in the article was that Jim Colborn was mentioned as being largely credited with the development of Ian Snell while Jim was with the Pirates.

I wonder if it wouldn't be prudent to see what the Pirates would want for Snell. Even if Colborn isn't the bullpen coach next year, maybe he can figure out what is going wrong with Snell this season and get him going again.

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cool

Feliz and Hurley. The 1-2 punch of the future

by Steal Home on Aug 11, 2008 1:15 PM CDT 0 recs

i guess this is our high profile latin american free agent

800,000 bucks isnt chump change in the foreign FA market for kids…

"I’m sure you’ve seen Kiker before but I’ll just reiterate that the kid is mean on the mound. He is only 5’10’’ but he is an intimidator. He looks like he hates hitters. He has the juice for pressure situations."
-Jason Parks on Jul 22, 2008 10:08 PM

by Jayslick on Aug 11, 2008 1:17 PM CDT 0 recs

Yep, nice prospect

Seems like decent velocity for a kid in his 3rd year of high school.

Pretty clearly the first time he has ever looked at a web site. "And there are readers' comments at the bottom! And advertisements for products! And best of all, I won a free iPod!"
-Ken Tremendous on Mike Downey.

by BudLight on Aug 11, 2008 1:45 PM CDT 0 recs

what is a third year senior?

did he skip a grade? i would assume it does not mean that he is repeating his senior year for the third time…

by clark on Aug 11, 2008 2:10 PM CDT up 0 recs

"A lot of people go to school for 7 years"

“Yeah…they’re called doctors.” I was wondering if I was the only one intrigued by the high schooler who’s a 3rd year senior. That can’t mean what we think it means…..

"Does this effectively hide my thunder?"

by Bob Loblaw on Aug 11, 2008 2:14 PM CDT up 0 recs

hopefully that means he graduated in 3 yrs

is your sn an arrested development reference?

Every pitch thrown to Josh Hamilton is recorded as an E1. -- clark

by knockoutking on Aug 11, 2008 2:15 PM CDT up 0 recs

No.

He is the real life Bob Loblaw.

The man in his avatar is also not Tobias.

by LiamP on Aug 11, 2008 2:28 PM CDT up 0 recs

Does Bob Loblaw have a Law Blog?

by BudLight on Aug 11, 2008 4:52 PM CDT up 0 recs

Arrested Development

Love the reference… might be the best show ever…

"Water covers 2/3 of the world, T-New's got the rest"

by TheJman on Aug 12, 2008 10:04 AM CDT up 0 recs

indeed it is, knockoutking

"Does this effectively hide my thunder?"

by Bob Loblaw on Aug 11, 2008 2:41 PM CDT up 0 recs

Arrested Development

When I saw Ahn Tae-kyeong’s name in the story above, my brain somehow caught just the first and last parts of his name, and turned it into “Ahn-yeong.”

I think that’s a sign I watched way too much Arrested Development. Man, I miss that show. Good thing I have the DVD’s…

"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky

by RCCook on Aug 11, 2008 4:12 PM CDT up 0 recs

They've been teasing a movie for ages.

Let’s just hope that materializes.

by LiamP on Aug 11, 2008 4:47 PM CDT up 0 recs

Ahn-yeong

Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return

by zywica on Aug 11, 2008 4:55 PM CDT up 0 recs

the entire show is free on hulu.com (legally)

I watched it over a couple weeks a while back. Good stuff.

the preceding post is not nearly as negative or insulting as you think it is

by DSheppard on Aug 12, 2008 1:09 AM CDT up 0 recs

Hulu=Greatness

I can’t figure out why that site doesn’t get more hype.

by BudLight on Aug 12, 2008 5:41 AM CDT up 0 recs

high schools

in a lot of the far-eastern nations is three years while elementary school is 6 years. Third year senior simply means he’s graduated high school

by FirebatM3 on Aug 11, 2008 2:33 PM CDT up 0 recs

Snell.

YES.

"So you have no frame of reference here, Donny. You're like a child who wanders into the middle of a movie and wants to know... "

by Walter Sobchak on Aug 11, 2008 2:11 PM CDT 0 recs

I agree!

A trade for Snell and one major FA pitcher signing and I would be happy.

Go Cubbies and Go Rangers!

by pbpsean on Aug 11, 2008 2:23 PM CDT up 0 recs

Does anyone know anything more about this kid?

Is he the Korean Iona or just-a-guy?

by mattrpav on Aug 11, 2008 2:13 PM CDT 0 recs

iona is a once in a generation guy

only guys like that not in america as pitching prospects (probably) are iona and yu darvish.

Every pitch thrown to Josh Hamilton is recorded as an E1. -- clark

by knockoutking on Aug 11, 2008 2:15 PM CDT up 0 recs

In between

As is mentioned above, though, this is a very nice bonus. Two recent bonuses that frame it for me are Dae-Eun Rhee and Young-Il Jung. Rhee signed for $550k in 2007 and is very promising but has had injury problems. Jung signed for $1 million and was immediately the Angels’ #4 prospect, but has disappointed some. This should be a pretty prominent guy, equivalent to a late first or high second round pick.

Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return

by zywica on Aug 11, 2008 2:18 PM CDT up 0 recs

Top 20 prospect?

by mattrpav on Aug 11, 2008 2:33 PM CDT up 0 recs

based on signing bonus only?

no way

by chrisR on Aug 11, 2008 2:39 PM CDT up 0 recs

FWIW

I think that the rankings that those guys got were based largely on their performances in fall instructs.

Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return

by zywica on Aug 11, 2008 2:42 PM CDT up 0 recs

Sure

no one’s gonna give away hundreds of thousands of dollars to a kid who doesn’t deserve it.
Still, many factors have to be taken into account when ranking a system’s prospects.

Just an aside, though. Korean pitchers = meh.

by chrisR on Aug 11, 2008 2:56 PM CDT up 0 recs

haha

no one’s gonna give away hundreds of thousands of dollars to a kid who doesn’t deserve it.

What about Drew Meyer? We gave him millions he didn’t deserve.

by uthornfan on Aug 11, 2008 3:04 PM CDT up 0 recs

+1

"Would you mind walking a time or two so I could drive in some runs"? Milton Bradley

by boomer1 on Aug 11, 2008 3:55 PM CDT up 0 recs

Could be, based on precedent, but if I were actually guessing I’d definitely say no.

Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return

by zywica on Aug 11, 2008 2:41 PM CDT up 0 recs

Very nice.

by coolaid on Aug 11, 2008 2:17 PM CDT 0 recs

Huh?

So how old is he if he’s a third year senior in high school (whatever that is)?

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on Aug 11, 2008 2:31 PM CDT 0 recs

same age

as a graduating sr

by Goyogringo on Aug 11, 2008 4:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

FWIW

Martin Perez was the Rangers’ top bonus baby in ‘07 with a $550K signing bonus.

Of course, Baseball America doesn’t seem to list Eastern signings as part of their Top 20 International Signing Bonuses…

Baseball Time in Arlington

by jamcadbury on Aug 11, 2008 2:32 PM CDT 0 recs

a few thoughts...

Why is it the Far East…
couldn’t we get their alot faster if we went west?

3rd year senior sounds like my friend Otis who had a mustache and only seemed to have the class “Shop” in highschool.

by clinton33 on Aug 11, 2008 2:52 PM CDT 0 recs

So...

are you being funny or is it a real question?

by chrisR on Aug 11, 2008 2:57 PM CDT up 0 recs

"i just get older, and the girls stay the same"

by Goyogringo on Aug 11, 2008 4:09 PM CDT up 0 recs

If u lay out a map of the world

China is on the east side of the map, and North America is west on the map.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXWLfIgc0nA

by mchang4 on Aug 11, 2008 6:43 PM CDT up 0 recs

OT: Millwood

YES our “ace” is starting on saturday…....

does this mean hunter is out of the rotation?

Feliz and Hurley. The 1-2 punch of the future

by Steal Home on Aug 11, 2008 4:16 PM CDT 0 recs

his innings need to stay down

might as well keep him in our bullpen

by clark on Aug 11, 2008 4:22 PM CDT up 0 recs

I hope it means

Harrisson is going back down, he needs it.

by tyd3311 on Aug 11, 2008 6:06 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'll tell you what he doesn't need...

onions…

we can’t have him crying again.

Stars in a Texas Night Sky, a Dallas Stars blog from a fan's perspective.

by rangers85 on Aug 11, 2008 6:23 PM CDT up 0 recs

hahaha + 1

I've never seen a pitcher with "bone spur" issues throw 96 mph. The only spurs I'm aware of are the spurs that Wash has buried in C J's ass as he rides him. I love ya C J but welcome to Wash's DOGHOUSE.
.

by LAMuscleFag on Aug 11, 2008 9:40 PM CDT up 0 recs