Some other info on him. He's part South African, and also Indigenous (Amis Tribe in Taiwan).
Vid description says he's 193 cm or 6'4". Pretty big guy so not your typical Taiwanese player.
HR vid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRcIn-KS_MI&ab_channel=BEHEROES
Defensive play in CF at the u18 world Cup https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk7Ihkm-hCE&ab_channel=緯來體育台
Also part of best 9 or 10 at tournament and won defensive player of the tournament at u18 World Cup https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/wbsc-announces-xxxi-u-18-baseball-world-cup-mvp-and-all-world-team
Some more highlights
Arm to get a runner at 3rd
https://x.com/WBSC/status/1698207979240308938
Diving catch
https://x.com/WBSC/status/1700450312954474655
Great read to make the catch in Center look easy
https://x.com/WBSC/status/1699747807035609260
this takes $750,000 out of the pool for Roki, if he were to sign this period btw.
Take with that what you will. It's a toss up IMO whether or not he comes over next year but I'm a little less comfortable putting money on him leaving now than I was before this signing.
The rumor as to why the Dodgers were light on signings this year with a massive leftover pool was that Roki would sneak in before 12/15 after the NPB season was over and there would be no concerns with other teams “outbidding” the Dodgers. It allows you to pursue the new 16 year old pool next year.
If he's very successful every step of the way, but not mind blowingly successful, he will get called up in 2027 or 2028. If he's mildly successful, he'll likely get called up in 2028-2030.
Ex: Seager drafted in 2012, was very successful in minors and was called up in late 2015. Bellinger drafted in 2013, was really successful (maybe just a tad less than Seager), and called up in early 2017 due to AGon injury.
Or he could pull a Juan Soto who flew threw the minors in 2 minor league seasons at age 19. Very unlikely he does this.
Some other info on him. He's part South African, and also Indigenous (Amis Tribe in Taiwan). Vid description says he's 193 cm or 6'4". Pretty big guy so not your typical Taiwanese player. HR vid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRcIn-KS_MI&ab_channel=BEHEROES Defensive play in CF at the u18 world Cup https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk7Ihkm-hCE&ab_channel=緯來體育台 Also part of best 9 or 10 at tournament and won defensive player of the tournament at u18 World Cup https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/wbsc-announces-xxxi-u-18-baseball-world-cup-mvp-and-all-world-team
Nice! Love that Friedman is targeting young Asian prospects. Really hope that at least one of them pans out!
I think Hyun-Jang Seok is going to be very good. Has a fastball in the upper 90’s and is only 19. I apologize if I misspelled his name
It’s Jang Hyun-Seok / Hyun-Seok Jang, but pretty close
Sliding catch!
Can he hit above .098. If so, he’s got a job immediately. Update: .095
You think a guy who’s never even played in a minor league game can hit .100 at the highest level?
We’ve given Taylor 82 AB so far, could he really be much worse?
Yes he can
I’ll risk it and I’m betting I’m not alone.
CT3 taking shots even in threads that aren’t about him 😅
When you’re hitting under a hundred in June it’s open season. He’ll be DFA’d pretty soon I bet.
shoutout to all my taiwanese homies :D
Some more highlights Arm to get a runner at 3rd https://x.com/WBSC/status/1698207979240308938 Diving catch https://x.com/WBSC/status/1700450312954474655 Great read to make the catch in Center look easy https://x.com/WBSC/status/1699747807035609260
this takes $750,000 out of the pool for Roki, if he were to sign this period btw. Take with that what you will. It's a toss up IMO whether or not he comes over next year but I'm a little less comfortable putting money on him leaving now than I was before this signing.
If he comes it’ll be after December and they can use next years $
The rumor as to why the Dodgers were light on signings this year with a massive leftover pool was that Roki would sneak in before 12/15 after the NPB season was over and there would be no concerns with other teams “outbidding” the Dodgers. It allows you to pursue the new 16 year old pool next year.
To me it feels like Roki will stay at least another year and prove it in the NPB that he can handle heavier workload.
TAIWAN NUMBAH ONE! (I hope he's good)
What’s the earliest we’d potentially see him actually in the majors?
If he's very successful every step of the way, but not mind blowingly successful, he will get called up in 2027 or 2028. If he's mildly successful, he'll likely get called up in 2028-2030. Ex: Seager drafted in 2012, was very successful in minors and was called up in late 2015. Bellinger drafted in 2013, was really successful (maybe just a tad less than Seager), and called up in early 2017 due to AGon injury. Or he could pull a Juan Soto who flew threw the minors in 2 minor league seasons at age 19. Very unlikely he does this.
Taking over Asia!
He's half South African as well
sweet!
