Year 10 MSA Student Athlete Jayden Kim has signed a Major League Baseball contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates after impressing again at the U18 World Cup.
Jayden arrived at Maribyrnong Sports Academy 2 years ago, after living the first 14 years of his life in Sth Korea. Jayden's father David who had a 7 year professional baseball career in Sth Korea, sourced out MSA for his son due to its ability to have a have a focus on sport as well as education.
Since Jayden has been at MSA he has made two Australian U18 World Cup teams, and has been a strong performer for Victoria in the National Youth Championships. Jayden praising MSA for the role it has played in his career. " Maribyrnong was very good for me, as it tought me the disciplne of getting up at 6am two mornings a week for training. It basically gave me the experience that I would have had at a college."
“From the very beginning of my baseball journey, my goal was always to become a professional baseball player,” says Kim. “I have worked hard towards achieving my dream and as I got older i had more scouts and teams looking at me, it then made me think that my dream could come true.”
Jayden begins his Professional Baseball Career in the Dominican Republic in February. "I will play around 70 games of rookie ball in the Dominican Republic and hopefully impress enough to then start working my way through the minor leagues."
Jayden's now joins rare company as one of just 26 Australians who currently possess an MLB-affiliated contract. Former MSA and Maribyrnong College student Declan Speirs is also in the Dominican Republic having signed with the Philadelphia Phillies.