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Munetaka Murakami (Chicago White Sox) and Kazuma Okamoto (Toronto Blue Jays) established themselves as top-tier power-hitting infielders in the league from their first season in the big leagues. Could the Pittsburgh Pirates, who have been less aggressive in their pursuit, become the next destination for another infield trade candidate, Noh Si-hwan (26, Hanwha Eagles)?
As Noh Si-hwan filed a posting application to Major League Baseball (MLB), articles predicting which team would be a good fit for him have been appearing one after another in local U.S. media.
U.S. sports outlet Sports Illustrated (SI) reported on the 4th (Korean time), "Pittsburgh may find its next elite third baseman in a Korean star."
After sending Kevan Brieske to the Cincinnati Reds at the 2025 trade deadline, Pittsburgh was left short of a reliable third baseman option. The report noted that the team is most in need of a starting third baseman in this offseason as well.
While there are several options available, the outlet highlighted Noh Si-hwan, stating, "An intriguing alternative exists in the form of Noh Si-hwan."
First, the article introduced Noh Si-hwan's KBO League achievements, which are unfamiliar to local fans. Since his debut, he has played eight seasons exclusively for Hanwha, appearing in 957 games with a .267 batting average, .353 on-base percentage, .457 slugging percentage, .810 OPS (on-base plus slugging), 153 home runs, and 586 RBIs.
Particular focus was placed on his performance over the last five seasons. The outlet explained that Noh Si-hwan has hit at least 20 home runs in each of the past five years, making him a powerful right-handed power hitter that Pittsburgh could utilize effectively.
The outlet pointed out, "The Pirates have gained almost no power from the third base position. Their third basemen combined for just 15 home runs in 2026, ranking fifth from the bottom in all of Major League Baseball, and their .677 OPS was only 10th from the bottom."
Therefore, it was predicted that if Pittsburgh signs Noh Si-hwan, they could secure a starting third baseman. The outlet stated, "There is no excellent long-term alternative to showcase at Pittsburgh's third base," and projected, "Noh Si-hwan could become the player who shoulders the team's future at that position."
Nick Gonzalez demonstrated batting ability ranking sixth in the entire big leagues with a .303 batting average, but was noted to have significant weaknesses on defense. Conversely, Gerard Soto's problem was his batting, which resulted in just three home runs and a .600 OPS despite excellent defensive skills. The outlet further pointed out that none of the other third base options, such as Jacob Gonzalez, Nick York, or Jack Brannigan, have shown the batting ability to claim a starting role.
The outlet projected, "While Noh Si-hwan is not evaluated as an elite defender, he could move to first base or serve as a designated hitter in the long term." It added, "Muff Grea, the top third base prospect for the Pirates, is on his way up. If he fulfills his potential, it would be a great asset for the team if Noh Si-hwan moves to the right side of the infield (first base) or focuses solely on batting."
Although Pittsburgh has not been aggressive in signing Asian players, they entered the bidding war for Murakami and Okamoto last year. However, both signed with other teams and delivered perfect debut seasons by hitting over 30 home runs each.
Pittsburgh also has fond memories of Kang Jung-ho. Kang Jung-ho, who signed with Pittsburgh via posting, recorded 15 home runs, 58 RBIs, and a .816 OPS in his 2015 debut season. The following year, although his batting average dropped to .255, he hit 21 home runs, drove in 62 runs, and significantly improved his OPS to .867. He was called "King Kang" for his outstanding performance in both offense and defense. Although he took a downward path after being caught in a drunk driving accident, the impact Kang Jung-ho made was substantial.
At the time, Kang Jung-ho signed a four-year contract worth $11 million (approximately 147 billion won). If Noh Si-hwan signs with Pittsburgh, the annual average amount could be of a similar scale. Noh Si-hwan signed an 11-year, 307 billion won non-FA multi-year contract with Hanwha ahead of this season. Since this level is expected to serve as a reference for big league contracts, it appears that Pittsburgh, despite not being a large-market team, could certainly make a move to sign Noh Si-hwan.
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*This content was translated by AI.View Original
