Prospect Countdown: #41 Jin-Ho Shin

41. Jin-Ho Shin Catcher

Paden Bennett (NR): Not much to say here, I'm not really a fan of this kid at all.  When we signed him, I had heard of his advanced approach at the plate and I love to hear that at any position.  Still only 21 years old, he could progress.  However, I just don't see it happening.

Joe Cox (30): It is a stretch to include a player like Shin on this list, and it is probably fitting that he is last on the rankings.  It is also my fault that he made this list of prospects.  Shin is a 6-2 200 pound catcher that seems to have some raw power but did just turn 21 and has struggled to produce outside of rookie ball.  I watched him play live in the pioneer league and he did at times pass the eye ball test due to his stature and a couple good games, but he clearly does not have enough power and does not make enough contact to have many expectations.  But depth at catcher is valuable and he could be viable minor league depth at the catcher position for the Royals system. 

Damion Mandalas (NR): Shin was one of the first high profile international signings of the Dayton Moore era. Unfortunately, he has yet to live up to the bill. However, for the first time in his career he produced some quality results at the plate, thanks to a sixty game stint in Idaho Falls.

I had the privilege of watching Shin and a few other prospects on this list for a few games this summer. I liked what I saw from Shin's offensive game enough to not write him off as a prospect. Throughout the series he showed good patience and good power, hitting a bomb to left and a line drive home run to center. However, I wasn't as inspired by what I saw from his glove work, which riddled the series with passed balls and poor decisions to throw behind runners. He should get his second start in Low-A to open 2013.

Dan Ware (NR):  So far in 3 seasons, Shin has compiled a career line .220/.296/.334..nothing to go crazy over.  Here's the bright side: Shin has been praised tremendously for his defensive presence as a catcher.  On the down side: I looked at his career numbers while crouching behind the plate.  I wouldn't say allowing 195 SB in just 159 career games and only throwing out 19% of them is all that impressive, but hey, he just turned 21 less than a month ago.  The time is running out, and quickly, for Shin to make a name for himself.  C'mon Shin!

Total Points: 1

Prospect Countdown: #49 Jin-Ho Shin

#49 Jin-Ho Shin

Position: C
Age: 20
Height: 6-2
Weight: 200
B/T: R/R
Acquired: Signed as International Free Agent in March 2009 for $600K
From: Hwasun-gun, Korea



Jin-Ho Shin's entire prospect standing among Royals' fans like myself comes primarily from his $600K signing bonus. At the time he received it, the bonus was one of the largest ever the Royals had ever issued for an international free agent. He was considered the first major acquisition into the Pacific Rim talent pool for the Kansas City Royals. (Except for the Trey Hillman, of course.)

Upon his signing I recall Shin being promoted as a strong kid, with an advanced approach at the plate. According to scouting reports, he projected to have solid average power potential with above average discipline at the plate.

Shin also garnered high praise for his defensive game. Like current Royals' backstop Salvador Perez, Shin catches from the flat footed technique, a technique that is preferred by most scouts. As a professional Shin has allowed 16 passed balls in in 72 games behind the plate, while only throwing out 14% of would be base stealers. While pitchers in rookie ball often struggle to control the running game, these aren't exactly impressive numbers.

Offensively, Shin has done even less at first glance. After all a career .189/.293/.277 line in rookie ball isn't getting it done. Shin did show improvement in 2011 and upped his OPS from .480 to .681 and if we throw out all of his at bats against those pesky lefties Shin's line in 2011 was actually .268/.341/.423.

Hopefully Shin's poor results against throwers from the opposite are due to lack of experience rather than a technical problem in Shin's approach and/or swing. If Shin can improve through experience against southpaws he could turn into a very interesting prospect fast.

Whatever potential Shin has, he has yet to start fulfilling it. He is only twenty-years-old and given his background it isn't shocking that he has struggled thus far. There is still time for Shin to turn his baseball body and potential into results, however if Shin never reaches High-A ball he wouldn't be the first bonus baby to flame out.

Shin makes this list simply because of the cache of being a bonus baby. I debated about including him at all, but in the end I decided to give the young catching prospect one more free pass before I held him accountable for his poor results.