Ha Won-mi reveals son's rankings on YouTube channel

'Multiple universities have sent offers'

[Captured from Ha Won-mi's YouTube channel]
[Captured from Ha Won-mi's YouTube channel]

Choo Geon-woo, the second son of former Major League Baseball player Choo Shin-soo, is drawing attention for standout performances on the US high school baseball circuit.

Ha Won-mi, Choo Shin-soo's wife, traveled to Long Beach, California, on Wednesday with their eldest son Mu-bin to watch Geon-woo compete after he was selected to play for the Texas Rangers in the MLB-organized Area Code Games.

The Area Code Games is an elite prospect showcase attended by scouts from all 30 MLB clubs, designed to evaluate high school players' professional potential and identify candidates for the MLB Draft.

"Seventy to 80 percent of players selected for the Area Code Games end up in the MLB Draft," Ha said. "In a way, it feels like a door has opened to take one more step toward the major leagues — I'm nervous, excited and honored."

In the video, Ha searched a ranking of the top 500 high school baseball prospects in the United States from the class of 2028.

Choo Geon-woo, currently a high school sophomore, came in at No. 38 nationally and No. 15 among outfielders. Within Texas, he ranked fourth overall and first among outfielders.

College programs have also been taking notice. Ha said Geon-woo is being evaluated as a five-tool player — just like his father — and that offers and inquiries have been coming in from a number of prominent college programs.

A five-tool player is one who excels across all five core skills: hitting for average, hitting for power, baserunning, fielding and arm strength.

Meanwhile, Choo Shin-soo and Ha Won-mi married in 2002 and have two sons and a daughter.


jshan@heraldcorp.com