The Texas Rangers are interested in international free agent Suk-Min Yoon, according to Sports Reel Boston's Andrew Rickli. The team's interest in the Korean right-hander "intensified" after it learned of Derek Holland's injury and subsequent knee surgery last month.
Suk-Min Yoon rumors: Rangers’ interest was intensified by Derek Holland injury
After Derek Holland’s injury, the Rangers’ interest in Yoon picked up.
Chung Sung-Jun
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Yoon, 27, has been both a reliever and a starter in the Korea Baseball Organization over the last few years. He’s coming off a down year in the KBO due to a shoulder injury that forced him into the bullpen, though MLB teams could still consider him a starter.
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Recently, he held a workout for scouts, throwing around 30 pitches off of a mound. The Orioles and Giants were in attendance to watch the 2011 KBO Most Valuable Player pitch. He's never thrown more than 173 innings in a season, so an immediate transition to a big league rotation might be too much to ask, but he's had success as a starter, and could provide a team like the Rangers a solid option until Holland returns.
Having served as a closer last season, Yoon could transition to the bullpen as well. Over 19 relief appearances and 11 starts in 2013, he had a 4.00 ERA with 76 strikeouts over 88 innings. After Hyun-jin Ryu left the KBO, Yoon was considered the best pitcher in Korea.
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