“A Korean slugger 11 years after Jung-ho Kang?” ... Pittsburgh media make the case for signing Roh Si-hwan

[Financial News] Excitement is building in the United States, particularly in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ home market, over the prospect of Roh Si-hwan, 25, one of Korea’s leading sluggers, making the move to Major League Baseball. Local media that celebrated Pittsburgh’s last postseason run 11 years ago alongside the arrival of “Jung-ho Kang” are now publicly making the case for signing Roh.
The Pittsburgh-focused section of U.S. sports outlet Sports Illustrated (SI) published an article on the 3rd (local time) headlined “Pittsburgh Could Find Its Next Great Third Baseman in a Korean Star,” identifying Roh Si-hwan as a key target to bolster the roster for the 2027 season.
The outlet’s main reason for highlighting Roh Si-hwan is Pittsburgh’s chronic shortage of third basemen. Pittsburgh’s third basemen have hit just 15 home runs combined this year. That is the fifth-lowest total among MLB’s 30 teams, and their OPS has also languished near the bottom at .677. Jared Triolo (OPS .600, 3 home runs), a strong defender, has cooled off at the plate, while Nick Gonzales (a .303 batting average), who has shown hitting talent, has exposed defensive weaknesses, leaving the team without a clear everyday starter.


By contrast, Roh has launched 29 home runs all by himself in the KBO League this year. Even accounting for the difference in league levels, that is a display of power equivalent to twice the total home runs hit by Pittsburgh’s third basemen. SI said, “Pittsburgh has not secured a long-term option at third base,” and called Roh “the right man to take over the position.” It also praised his consistency, noting that he has reached the 20-homer mark for five straight years and hit 116 home runs over the past four seasons, calling him “a right-handed slugger Pittsburgh sorely needs.”
One interesting point is that local media are drawing comparisons between Roh Si-hwan and Jung-ho Kang, who excelled with Pittsburgh in the past.
After joining Pittsburgh via the posting system in late 2014, Jung-ho Kang hit 15 home runs in the 2015 season and 21 in 2016, writing a success story in the majors for a position player from the KBO League. Notably, 2015, the year Kang joined the team, was also the last year Pittsburgh reached the postseason, finishing 98-64 in the National League Central.
Citing Kang’s success directly, SI offered an optimistic outlook: “Roh Si-hwan could become Pittsburgh’s next third baseman and play an important role in leading the team to the postseason for the first time since 2015.” It also addressed concerns raised by some about his defense, suggesting a flexible plan: “If third-base prospects develop in the future, Roh could be used at first base or as a designated hitter to maximize his power.”


Of course, for MLB teams to make actual offers, Roh will first have to undergo rigorous evaluation of his ability to handle fastballs, including his strikeout rate this season (25.7%, 147 strikeouts). Roh also has a substantial safety net in the form of his 11-year, 30.7 billion won contract with Hanwha, leaving ample room for him to stay in Korea if the contract terms do not work out.
But the very fact that Pittsburgh media are publicly making the case for signing a Korean slugger, stirring memories of Jung-ho Kang from 11 years ago, shows that MLB’s interest in Roh Si-hwan is anything but casual.


[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter