The Korean Baseball Organization has sent a letter of protest to Major League Baseball complaining about the Baltimore Orioles signing a 17 year-old high school pitcher named Kim Seong-min. They refer to the Orioles as “poaching” amateur talent and, in turn, harming Korean baseball.
This is kind of strange for two reasons.
First: Based on the article this seems to be more of an unwritten rule violation than an actual violation of any U.S-South Korea protocols when it comes to baseball talent. It has happened before. In this instance, however, the KBO is displeased that it was not contacted first.
Second: It’s strange because it has to represent the first time in decades that the Orioles could reasonably be accused of being aggressive in signing young talent of any kind.
