Intro:

After signing a four-year, multi-million dollar contract in January, South Korea's Kang Jung Ho is at the Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training Camp in Bradenton, Florida competing for a starting shortstop spot.

Script:

SOUNDBITE: (English) Pittsburgh Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle:(on his impressions of Kang Jung Ho)

"We like the player. We like the player, we like the sill set. We've been able to run him around the field a few days now. He's shown us good action at short (short stop). We like the bat as well in watching the videotape. He's shown us an ability to leverage the baseball. Hit the baseball around the park. Hit for power. Be a run producer and score. And we've seen him hit some hard stuff, hit some breaking stuff, hit some change ups, so he's an aggressive guy at the plate. He seems to be aggressive in the field. So far the look has been very clean and we're happy to have him. We think he'll add value to everything we do."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Pittsburgh Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle: (on his familiarity with the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) and the scouting done on Kang Jung Ho)

"I'm not familiar with it other than us going to get a couple of pitchers now and again. I know it's a league that's in play more now. I know some pitchers and players have tried to come over and the pitchers have had the most success. This is the first player opportunity to get right into the big leagues. Shoo came over and was in a minor league program. I think there was one other. That started into the minor leagues and got into the big leagues so from that aspect - I don't want to take anything away from the league. I've been told it ranks somewhere around a high minor league level, whether that is triple A, I don't know. And I don't want to disrespect the players that are playing; I know that there's only one Major Leagues. And it's here. And that would be the next step the next procession step for him to take to see how that skill set matches up."

SOUNDBITE: (Korean) Kang Jung Ho: (on his first impressions of Pirates Spring Training)

"I'm having a lot of fun with all my Pirate teammates and I'm enjoying it really very much."

SOUNDBITE: (Korean) Kang Jung Ho: (on conversations he may have had with manager Clint Hurdle about his potential role on the team)

"We haven't talked about the details yet, but we talked about things like every game, Clint is expecting me to put every effort into it. So I'm very thankful for everything I've got here."

SOUNDBITE: (Korean) Kang Jung Ho: (on his expectations for his inaugural MLB season)

I don't have my own personal goal just yet. I'm just trying my best to help the team make the playoffs. I'm putting everything into that."

SOUNDBITE: (Korean) Kang Jung Ho: (on representing KBO and Korea)

"I do feel a bit of pressure, but I enjoy it. And I want to perform well so other Korean players can come to the States too."