Though the Korea Baseball Organization is all Jung-ho Kang has known, he has some familiarity with his potential next stop.
Kang’s former KBO team, the Hyundai Unicorns, used to train at the Pirates’ spring training facility in Bradenton, Fla., under a working agreement signed in 1998. The Pirates won the exclusive right to negotiate with the infielder after he was posted in December, and if he signs by Jan. 20, he could begin his season there once again.
“At this point, I feel confident we’ll come to an agreement,” Alan Nero, Kang’s agent, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Wednesday.
“The process has been very positive. [General manager] Neal [Huntington] has tried very hard to basically come to the table with an offer.”
Kang’s most recent team, the KBO’s Nexen Heroes, accepted the Pirates’ $5,002,015 bid Dec. 20. That granted the Pirates 30 days to come to an agreement with Kang. If they do not, he returns to the Heroes and the Pirates get their posting fee back.
“The thing that surprised me a little bit was that they weren’t the ones that were showing the most interest,” Nero said. “That was a bit of a surprise. I know Neal’s committed to improving the ballclub.”
Signing Kang, a 27-year-old offensive powerhouse, would likely do that. He hit .356 with a .459 on-base percentage and 40 home runs in 501 plate appearances for the Heroes last season, albeit in an offense-heavy league. He hit at least 22 home runs in each of the past three seasons.
“If you went back and you studied his video in the past three years, he’s made a tremendous amount of adjustments at the plate,” Nero said. “He’s changed his style of hitting. He hits to all fields, he’s not a typical power hitter that’s a pull hitter.”
Nero pointed to Ichiro Suzuki, one of the first Asian players to join Major League Baseball via the posting system, and the uncertainty surrounding how his skills would translate. Suzuki made his major league debut in 2001 and won a batting title, the most valuable player award and the rookie of the year award.
“Bear in mind that he’s the first hitter to come from Korea,” Nero said of Kang. “I would compare him to the first extraordinary players that come from any league.”
By signing Kang, the Pirates would strengthen their bench by adding a right-handed power bat who could play the middle infield — an important ability if second baseman Neil Walker’s back gives him trouble or shortstop Jordy Mercer struggles. Adding Kang also would increase the Pirates’ payroll commitments for 2015 to more than $95 million.
“I think that the potential of having him in the lineup somewhere, with his power, I think that would help the Pirates win,” Nero said.
Bill Brink: bbrink@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrinkPG.
First Published: January 8, 2015, 5:00 a.m.
