'Top Overall Candidate' Seoul High's Kim Ji-woo Receives Final Offer of $1.5 Million from Toronto: "Decision to Be Made This Week"

*This content was translated by AI.

Kim Ji-woo (18), a candidate for the top overall pick in the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft, is expected to soon decide on his future with Major League Baseball (MLB).

A source familiar with MLB affairs told StarNews on the 18th, "Kim Ji-woo of Seoul High has received an offer of $1.5 million (approximately 2.3 billion won). I heard he will make a decision within this week."

The team that made the offer to Kim Ji-woo is the Toronto Blue Jays, an American League East division club that has shown consistent interest. Following right-handed pitcher Moon Seojun (19) of Jangchung High last year, Toronto has shown significant interest in top Korean high school prospects this year, including the "Big 3."

According to StarNews' investigation, around the time of the High School-College All-Star Game held in Daejeon on the 8th, a Toronto Blue Jays executive visited Korea to express interest in promising players. Ha Hyun-seung (18, Busan High), who chose to remain in Korea, was among them, and recently, the Blue Jays went all out for Kim Ji-woo.

Despite Kim Ji-woo suffering an injury after participating in the 4th Hanwha Eagles Cup High School-College All-Star Game held in Daejeon on the 8th, which kept him out of action for about a month, reports indicate that the offer amount was actually increased. The $1.5 million figure is close to the international draft bonus pool limit available to Toronto this year.

In the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft scheduled for the second half of this year, Kim Ji-woo was named one of the "Big 3" promising players alongside Ha Hyun-seung of Busan High and Eom Jun-sang (18) of Deoksu High. Possessing natural power and a strong arm, he plays both as a pitcher and a batter, and this year also served as the captain of Seoul High.

As a batter, he recorded a .429 batting average (42 at-bats, 18 hits), 2 home runs, 17 RBIs, 12 runs scored, and 2 stolen bases in 12 games, with an on-base percentage of 0.451, a slugging percentage of 0.714, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 1.165. As a pitcher, he went 2-1 in 8 games with an ERA of 4.91, pitching 11 1/3 innings, issuing 4 walks, and recording 15 strikeouts.

However, MLB scouts have high hopes for Kim Ji-woo's potential. One MLB scout stated, "If we look only at potential, Kim Ji-woo of Seoul High would be the number one pick in the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft. His power is exceptional. Although he hasn't shown consistent performance, he is undoubtedly a promising player with great growth potential."

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*This content was translated by AI.