Local U.S. media pour scathing criticism on power hitter Noh Si-hwan, who is challenging the majors: "KBO is Double-A level; strikeout rate surges, third-base defense below average"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Harsh criticism from local U.S. media has been piling up on Noh Si-hwan (26, Hanwha Eagles), a power-hitting third baseman aiming for a move to Major League Baseball. The coverage not only disparaged the overall level of the KBO League but also delivered a sharp assessment that he is difficult to view as a major-league regular in both hitting and defense.

The U.S. sports outlet "Sports Illustrated (SI)" mentioned Noh Si-hwan on the 2nd (Korean time) while discussing options to bolster the Los Angeles Angels' vulnerable third-base position. The outlet stated, "If the Angels look across the Pacific, there is a reinforcement card in the form of slugger Noh Si-hwan, who will turn 27 for the 2027 season," but added, "However, digging deeper reveals plenty of reasons for concern."

Previously, the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) officially requested the MLB office on October 31 to post Noh Si-hwan to the 30th MLB teams at the request of the Hanwha club. Under the regulations, the 30th MLB teams can negotiate a contract with Noh Si-hwan from 8 a.m. (Eastern Time) the day after the office's posting notice until 5 p.m. on the 30th day. If a deal is reached, a transfer fee will be paid to the Hanwha club in accordance with the Korea-U.S. Player Contract Agreement; if no contract is reached by the deadline, the posting ends and re-posting is not possible until November 1 of the following year.

Above all, local attention has been cold. The first point raised was the difference in pitch velocity and competitiveness between KBO League pitchers and those in the U.S. SI noted, "The pitches Noh Si-hwan faced in the KBO League are noticeably slower than the velocity he will encounter from pitchers in the United States," adding, "Most scouts rate the overall level of the KBO League as only slightly better than Double-A in the U.S. minor leagues. It is foolish to expect Noh Si-hwan, a product of such a league, to post similar results on the world's biggest stage."

Furthermore, his surging strikeout rate was cited as a fatal weakness. The outlet stated, "Noh Si-hwan is already assessed as striking out more frequently than the average KBO hitter. His strikeout rate, which had been around 20% over the past three years, soared to 25.7% this season," and expressed concern, adding, "He may have changed his swing to focus on power hitting with home runs in mind, but if he is striking out once every four at-bats against KBO pitchers, his strikeout rate will increase even more significantly against Major League pitchers."

His defensive ability also did not receive high marks. SI said, "The Angels' third-base defense was terrible this season, so anyone coming in would be an upgrade," but noted, "There is significant debate regarding Noh Si-hwan's defensive value. Most scouts view him as an average or below-average defender."

It continued, "His strong arm is a plus grade, but his left-right range is significantly lacking, limiting his defensive coverage," and pointed out, "During the World Baseball Classic (WBC) held in March last year, Noh Si-hwan moved to first base so that third base could be entrusted to Kim Do-young, an infielder with better defense."

SI estimates Noh Si-hwan's market value at approximately $8 million (about 10.7 billion won) over a contract term of two to three years. However, it added that this amount would not be a significant burden for the Angels and could be used for workload management for starting first baseman Nolan Schanuel (24).

However, the conclusion was cold. SI stated, "Noh Si-hwan should rightly remain at the level of 'Plan C' or 'Plan D' for the Angels this offseason," and concluded, "It is far better to bring in veteran infield resources like Alex Bregman (30) or Edmundo Sosa (30) than an unproven KBO hitter with a soaring strikeout rate and limited defensive range."

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

*This content was translated by AI.View Original