Jang Jae-young, once a highly touted pitching prospect in South Korean baseball, will convert to a position player, the Kiwoom Heroes announced Sunday.

His club said Jang, 22, will play as the designated hitter in a minor league game Tuesday and will later start taking fielding drills.

The Heroes said Jang decided on the switch as he tries to make his way back from his right elbow injury. The team had announced on May 7 that Jang would undergo rehab instead of going under the knife.

“We sat down with Jang Jae-young on May 7 to discuss his elbow situation, and we talked about a position switch,” the Heroes said in a statement. “We had several more conversations after that, and all parties agreed that there have to be some bold changes to help both the team and the player in the future.”

Jang was the Heroes’ top pick in the 2020 Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) draft and made his professional debut the following year.

While Jang showed occasional signs of brilliance with blazing fastballs, the right-hand
er never became the kind of dominant force that the Heroes had hoped. He has a career pitching record of 1-6 with a 6.45 ERA in 56 outings over the past three years.

In his final year at Duksoo High School, Jang flashed some strong hitting skills, putting up a .353 batting average with three home runs and 21 RBIs in 18 games.

The Heroes said Jang will stay focused on hitting for the time being, and defensive work will come down the road.

“Jang Jae-young told the team he’d like to play shortstop, and we will respect that,” the Heroes said. “At the same time, considering his ceiling and potential for growth, we also suggested center field. He is very athletic with great speed and a strong arm, and we will help him develop into a good hitter.”

Source: Yonhap News Agency