Hyun-jin Ryu
Several Korean players have also successfully transitioned from the KBO to American Major League Baseball, starting in 1994 with pitcher Chan Ho Park. (Prior to Park, the South Korea-born Mexican pitcher Ernesto Carlos [born as Lee Won-Kuk] was signed to an American minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants' organization in 1968 after having found success in the NPB. Similarly, pitcher Park Chul-soon signed a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers organization in 1980. Neither Ernesto Carlos nor Park Chul-soon, however, made it to the Major Leagues.) Other former KBO players who have had lengthy MLB careers include outfielder Shin-Soo Choo and pitchers Hyun-jin Ryu and Byung-hyun Kim. Altogether, 23 South Korean players have made it to the MLB as of 2020.