Kim Ji-Woo declines Blue Jays offer, entering KBO draft instead
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 22, 2026, 7:51 PM
Last updated Jun 22, 2026
Kim Ji-Woo, an 18-year-old two-way baseball prospect, has chosen to enter the KBO rookie draft instead of accepting a reported $1 million-plus offer from the Toronto Blue Jays. Kim expressed his desire to prove himself in Korea first, aiming to gain recognition from local fans. The Doosan Bears are projected to select him with the number-two pick, while the Kiwoom Heroes could take him first. His move mirrors the trajectory of Shohei Ohtani, who thrived in a unique routine in Japan before making his MLB debut.
- •Kim Ji-Woo received multiple offers from MLB teams, including the Blue Jays.
- •He decided to enter the KBO draft instead of signing with a major league.
- •Kim aims to play in Korea's passionate ballparks and gain local fan support.
- •Doosan Bears are projected to select him with the number-two pick.
- •His situation draws parallels to Shohei Ohtani's development path in Japan.
- 7:51 PMYahoo Sports — Korean 2-way star reveals why he rejected Blue Jays’ $1 million-plus offer
"Kim Ji-Woo is the latest in a long line of promising two-way prospects to emerge from the amateur ranks since Shohei Ohtani arrived from Japan. Kim, 18, reportedly received an offer north of $1 million from the Toronto Blue Jays,…
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