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Report: Blue Jays offer Korean two-way player Kim Ji-woo a bonus worth $1.5 million
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Photo credit: © Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jun 19, 2026, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 19, 2026, 17:00 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays have been linked to another Korean prospect.
Numerous sources reported on Thursday that the Blue Jays have offered two-way player Kim Ji-woo a bonus worth $1.5 million. A decision is expected at some point next week.
On the mound, Ji-Woo reaches 95 mph with his heater, but he posted a 4.91 ERA in just 11.1 innings of work. Over the eight games, all seemingly in relief, Ji-woo reportedly struck out 15 and gave up four free passes. 
In Ji-woo’s 12 games as a hitter. He managed to hit two home runs and bat .429. The Korean high school baseball season isn’t particularly long, but he missed a month of action according to this publication.
Ji-woo is one of four intriguing South Korean prospects who is/was eligible for the 2027 Korean Baseball Organization draft. Jun-Sang Eom recently signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks, while Ha Hyun-seung elected to remain in South Korea. The other one, Seojun Moon, signed with the Blue Jays during the 2025 international free agency period.
The 19-year-old has spent the entirety of the 2026 season with the Florida Complex League Blue Jays, where he has a 5.40 ERA and 5.77 FIP in 13.1 innings pitched. His K% of 24.2% is solid, but Moon’s 16.1 BB% is a bit worrisome.
Returning to Ji-woo, if he does end up signing with the Blue Jays, and it’s still an “if” at this point, it’s unclear whether he’ll continue as a two-way player. Even in North America, it’s not uncommon for high school prospects to both hit and pitch, Blue Jays prospect Cutter Coffey being a prime example.
That said, they do have one two-way player currently in the organization, Austin Smith. Drafted in the 10th round of the 2025 draft, he’s had a tough start in both facets of the game.
Used as a reliever, the left-handed pitcher has a 5.59 ERA and 7.04 FIP in 9.2 innings of work this season, along with a 20 K% and 17.8 BB%. When he’s not on the mound, he’s in the outfield, and with the bat, Smith is slashing just .179/.323/.245 with a home run in 133 plate appearances.
For context, when Smith focused solely on hitting to end his 2025 season, he slashed .259/.394/.395 with two home runs in 99 plate appearances with the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays. The big takeaway here is that it’s darn hard to be a two-way player.
The offer is on the table, but it appears Ji-woo’s decision won’t happen for at least a few days.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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