'Another, Another Two-Inning No-Hitter': TEX's Kim Sung-jun finishes with a 0.00 ERA in Single-A! Also recorded two RBIs and a double as a hitter for a 'successful conclusion'

*This content was translated by AI.

Texas Rangers two-way prospect Kim Sung-jun (19, Hickory Crawdads) allowed no hits in his final regular-season appearance. Since being promoted to Single-A, he has faced just one hit across three appearances totaling six innings.

On the 3rd (Korean time), Kim started for Hickory against Fayetteville Woodpeckers, a Houston Astros affiliate, in a 2026 Minor League Baseball (MiLB) regular-season home game in Hickory, North Carolina. He recorded two scoreless innings with no hits allowed, three walks, and two strikeouts, contributing to Hickory's 5-4 victory.

According to the U.S. media outlet "Prospect Times," which specializes in Texas farm systems, this was Kim's final Single-A appearance of the season. The Southern Carolina League, where Hickory competes, concludes its regular season on the 7th. Hickory has surged with 12 consecutive wins, finishing at 45-17 to secure first place in their division and clinch a spot in the postseason.

Kim was promoted from the Rookie-level ACL Rangers to Hickory on the 19th of last month. His performances since then have been impressive. In his Single-A debut on the 20th against Delmarva Shorebirds, an affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, he pitched two scoreless innings with one hit allowed, no walks, and four strikeouts, leaving a strong first impression. According to "Prospect Times," Kim's four-seam fastball was clocked at 95–96 mph (approximately 152.9–154.5 km/h) during that game.

From his second appearance onward, he delivered consecutive no-hit outings. On the 27th of last month against Wilson T-Bones, a Single-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, Kim pitched two scoreless innings with no hits allowed, two walks, and two strikeouts. Just one week later, on this day, he once again held batters hitless over two innings. As a result, Kim finished his Single-A tenure with three games, a 0.00 ERA, six innings pitched, one hit allowed, five walks, eight strikeouts, and no runs scored.

Although Texas is strictly managing Kim's pitching workload, limiting him to a maximum of two innings per appearance, the fact that he has not surrendered a single run in a league one step above Rookie ball demonstrates his potential as a pitcher.

Local evaluations in the U.S. have also been overwhelmingly positive. Matthew Harris of "Prospect Times" wrote on his social media after the game: "Kim Sung-jun closed out his final regular-season appearance for Hickory in 2026 with a strong performance."

Harris noted that Kim's walks per nine innings (BB/9) reached 6.14 this season, emphasizing that improving control is essential if he is to remain a starter long-term. However, he added, "While we could discuss his control issues, I'd rather use this time to highlight how impressive Kim Sung-jun's season has been."

He continued, "Kim's pitching mechanics are stable, and the athleticism he displays on the mound is very smooth. As he continues to grow physically and increases his innings, there is no doubt he will improve further. I am quite optimistic about what next season holds for Kim Sung-jun."

Even more intriguing is that Kim has also made an impact as a hitter. On August 26, one day before his second appearance, he hit a two-run double to left field. MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, featured videos on two consecutive days highlighting Kim's ability to produce two RBIs with the bat and then throw a two-inning no-hitter as a starter the following day.

His overall season statistics, combining performances from Rookie ball onward, are also impressive. As a pitcher, he recorded 8 games, 14⅔ innings, a 0.61 ERA, and 18 strikeouts. As a hitter, he posted a .283 batting average, seven home runs, 36 RBIs, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.892.

These achievements explain why Texas signed Kim and why they continue to carefully consider his development path. Since his time at Gwangju Ilgo High School, Kim has drawn attention from Major League clubs due to his exceptional physical attributes and athletic ability as early as his freshman year. In 2024, during his sophomore year, he won the Baseball Star Award at the Futures Star Awards ceremony. Then, in May of last year, while a high school senior, he signed an international amateur contract with Texas for $1.2 million (approximately 1.7 billion won), choosing to pursue his career in the United States.

Last month, when MLB.com updated its prospect rankings, it placed Kim Sung-jun as the eighth-best prospect within the Texas organization, noting he was "the Korean player signed instead of Sasaki Rocky (25, Los Angeles Dodgers)."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.