#29 - OF Won-Bin Cho
Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 40 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 35+
Background: The Cardinals signed Cho out of South Korea during the 2022 international signing period for $500,000. He opted to sign with the Cardinals rather than entering the KBO draft, becoming the first amateur player the organization had ever signed from South Korea. Cho instantly became a fan favorite and when he debuted in 2022, he showcased a 80-grade bat flip which further endeared him to Cardinals nation.
Scouting Report: Cho broke out in a major way in his age-19 season at Palm Beach, establishing himself as one of the most intriguing young hitters in the Cardinals system. The sweet-swinging outfielder posted a .270/.376/.389 slash line, all while being more than two years younger than the average Single-A player. His advanced feel for hitting was evident in his first year of full-season ball. Although his contact rates were decent, he consistently showcased an ability to spray line drives to all fields when he connected. Cho’s patient approach at the plate, paired with his line-drive stroke, helped him finish 8th in the FSL in OBP in 2023. While Cho has yet to develop the batted ball profile necessary to hit for power, he still posted impressive top-end exit velocities for his age, including a 111.1 MPH max EV and a 103.1 MPH 90th percentile EV.
His knack for hitting the ball hard, combined with his all-fields approach, allowed him to find success on shallow launch angle batted balls. Flash forward to 2024, and Cho finished with an 81 wRC+ over 107 games at High-A Peoria. So, what went wrong? His most glaring weakness became exploited. Cho feasted on fastballs during his time at Palm Beach but ran into serious troubles against offspeed and breaking pitches. High-A pitchers took note, and it took some time for Cho to adjust. His pitch recognition against secondary offerings has been the biggest obstacle in his development so far. While he possesses a patient approach, he’s often susceptible to chasing offspeed and breaking pitches—especially late in counts. He’ll need to better balance his approach, punishing fastballs in the zone while staying disciplined against secondary pitches off the plate. Though his flatter attack angle can help him from a BABIP standpoint, it will be vital for him to find a power stroke to reach his ultimate offensive ceiling. Cho is a slightly above-average runner at present and spent most of 2024 playing center field. While his raw athleticism might be enough to handle the position for now, his routes are inconsistent, making him a better long-term fit in a corner. That said, he could still fill in at center in a pinch. His throwing arm projects as around average for a corner spot, though it has flashed the potential to be a hair above average.
Future: Cho’s all-around skill set, paired with his ability to handle all three outfield spots, should, in theory, provide a safe floor as a bench piece. However, if he can’t make the necessary adjustments to his hitting approach, that won’t even matter. His long-term future hinges on his ability to better recognize and adjust to secondary offerings. While there is still hope that Cho could develop into a starting-caliber big league outfielder, at this point, a bench role seems like the more likely outcome.
