Minor Leaguer Shim Jun-seok Released by New York Mets Amid Control Struggles

Shim Jun-seok, a top-tier hard-throwing pitching prospect who once sparked the buzzword "Shim Jun-seok Draft" during the 2023 KBO rookie draft, has been released by the New York Mets after failing to overcome control issues.

The Mets announced today (July 30) that they have released Shim, who was assigned to the FCL Mets, the team's rookie-level affiliate in the Florida Complex League.

This season, Shim recorded a 1-1 record with an 8.55 ERA, pitching 20 innings across 16 appearances.

His control was severely hampered, issuing 30 walks and hitting five batters with pitches over his 20 innings of work.

Shim generated high expectations in 2022 during his senior year at Duksugok High School when he threw up to a top speed of 160 km/h (99.4 mph).

Because of this, whether Shim would challenge himself in the United States or enter the KBO draft was a matter of intense interest in South Korean baseball.

After deep deliberation at the time, Shim chose to pursue a career in Major League Baseball (MLB), and the Hanwha Eagles, who held the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 KBO rookie draft, selected Kim Seo-hyun instead.

Shim subsequently agreed to a deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates with a signing bonus of $750,000, and the club showed high expectations by holding a grand introductory press conference.

However, injuries to various body parts, including his elbow, toe, lower back, and shoulder, repeatedly derailed his progress.

While he showed potential in 2023 with the Pirates in the rookie league, posting a 3.38 ERA with 13 strikeouts and three walks in 8 innings across 4 appearances, he struggled the following year in 2024, collapsing with a 19.80 ERA with 12 walks in 5 innings across 6 appearances in the Arizona Fall League.

After being released by Pittsburgh, he signed with the Miami Marlins last year, but continued to suffer from poor control in the rookie league, recording a 10.80 ERA with 23 walks in 13 1/3 innings across 13 appearances.

This year, he signed with the Mets, but after exposing the same persistent issues, he has once again been let go by his team.

(Photo: Capture of Pittsburgh Pirates official social media, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.