Korean media reported that 26-year-old Samsung right-hander Won Tae-in could pursue the MLB. The report also covers the differences between using the posting system and free agency, as well as local assessments and projections of his pitching velocity.
Won Tae-in (26), a pitcher for Samsung of the Korea Professional Baseball League, has been featured in Korean media in connection with the possibility of pursuing a move to Major League Baseball. The article describes a situation in which a move using the posting system or a move after obtaining free-agent eligibility is being considered.
Won Tae-in joined Samsung after graduating from high school and won 15 games in 2024, earning the most wins title. This season, he has a 7–9 record and a 4.52 ERA in 26 games. His KBO career record is 75–59 with a 3.86 ERA in 213 games.
With attention focused on his future in the Korean Series, local reports have also mentioned the possibility that he could be used as a reliever rather than in his usual starting role, and noted that it remains uncertain whether he can follow the path taken by Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He has also been featured by MLB.com, while some reports suggest that free agency would involve lower costs.
However, local scouts have given a measured assessment of his fastball velocity, which is approximately 91–94 mph, and some believe he would have difficulty meeting the MLB average. Another analysis reported that he could become a bullpen option rather than a starter.
Overall, he has been characterised as “an intriguing sleeper who is not highly regarded as a top starting-pitching prospect but carries limited risk and could provide immediate value,” drawing attention to what lies ahead for his career.