In the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft, Kevin Shim (21, Korean: Jong-Hyun Shim), Arizona’s fifth-round (148th overall) pick, stole the show. Kevin Shim, who has been recognized for his potential since high school, signed with Arizona in this year’s draft and took a step toward the major leagues.
Kevin Shim’s rise to prominence from a young age is largely due to his highly regarded baseball skills and potential. However, there’s also a bit of his father’s influence. His father is Jung-soo Shim (48), a former home run king who made a name for himself as one of the KBO’s leading sluggers. Still a household name in the hearts of fans, the star hit 328 home runs in his KBO career, making a name for himself as a powerhouse hitter of his time.
Shim made his professional debut in 1994 with OB, where he was known for his “power is a business,” and in 1999 he became the league’s leading slugger with 31 home runs. After moving to the Hyundai in 2001, he hit his prime. He hit 46 home runs in 2002 and 53 in 2023, making him a rival to the “legend” Lee Seung-yeop, the current Doosan manager. At the time, Shim Jung-soo was the only Korean player who could challenge Lee for the home run title.
Shim moved to Samsung in 2005 and played until 2008, when he retired. Instead of pursuing a coaching career in Korea, he and his family moved to San Diego, California, where he still lives today. Kevin Shim was born in Daegu in 2002 and followed his father to the United States to play baseball. From a young age, he showed great talent and raised the expectations of everyone involved. He had his father’s baseball DNA running through him.
His high school career took off. Kevin Sim played high school ball in San Diego, where he was selected to both the Under Armour All-America Game and the Perfect Game All-American Classic. It’s the kind of honor only the best high school prospects get. His high school ranking was in the top 50. It was a surefire way to make the major leagues. In real life, Kevin Shim went to the University of San Diego and was selected by a major league team this year.
After signing with Arizona, he was assigned to the rookie team, just like any other rookie. However, the rookie league was too small for Kevin Sim, who had already performed at the highest level in college. In four games in the Rookie League, Kevin Sim had a breakout season with a .533 batting average, seven RBIs, and an OPS of 1.100. Arizona promoted him straight to Single-A, believing he could play at a higher level. In effect, he skipped the Rookie League and went straight to low Single-A.
In his first four games at Low Single-A, he’s batting .267 with two RBIs. We’ll have to wait and see about his defense and other metrics, but if he can get his offense on track, he’ll be able to move up to High Single-A later this year or next year and set the stage for a promotion to Double-A. At Double-A, we’ll see if he’s ready for the majors. Assuming he makes it through this process, he could have a chance to make his major league debut as early as 2025.
Kevin Sim stands at an imposing 6-foot-2. In college, he mostly played corner infield positions, such as first or third base. He was recognized early on as an athletic right-handed hitter, and his above-average bat speed and power have been consistently praised. His shoulders have also been praised. Some believe that Kevin Sims will eventually take over at first base. That means he’s highly regarded for his offensive potential.
Arizona is in the midst of a generational shift at the plate, with high-potential hitters consistently being called up to the major league level in recent years. This includes outfielder Corbin Carroll, who is a strong candidate for National League Rookie of the Year, catcher Gabriel Moreno, and outfielders Alex Thomas and Jake McCarty. Compared to the outfield, however, the corner infields are still dominated by veterans. Christian Walker and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. at first base and Evan Longoria at third base are all over 30.
However, Arizona’s minor league farm has seen a recent surge in corner infielders. Davidson De Los Santos, Ivan Merendez, and others have shown great promise. In time, Kevin Shim could follow in their footsteps and become a major league-ready corner infielder.온라인바카
Shim’s father, Jung Jung, also tried to make it to the major leagues in his prime. In 2003, he was invited to spring training with the Florida (now Miami) Marlins. However, he was ultimately not signed. As early as 2025, we could see his son fulfill his father’s dream of playing in the big leagues, where he was known as Hercules.