Ha Hyun-seung, Why He Turned Down the New York Yankees' 4 billion won Offer for a 1.6 billion won KBO Deal: "Playing in Korea Was My Dream" [You Quiz on the Block][Byeolbyeol TV]

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Baseball player Ha Hyun-seung revealed why he rejected a 4 billion won offer from Major League Baseball powerhouse New York Yankees and chose the KBO League instead.

Ha Hyun-seung, known as "Busan's Ohtani," appeared on episode 363 of tvN's variety show 'You Quiz on the Block,' which aired on the 7th.

Ha was a key figure in leading South Korea to its first championship in eight years at this year's U-18 Asia Youth Baseball Championship, where he pitched a complete game shutout victory against Japan in the final, striking out eight batters over seven innings. He was subsequently selected with the first overall pick by the Kiwoom Heroes in the KBO Rookie Draft.

On the show, Yoo Jae-suk asked Ha, "How much is your signing bonus? There has been a lot of talk about whether you will surpass the all-time rookie record of 1 billion won."

Ha responded candidly, "First of all, I believe it's always good to break records if you can." In fact, Ha later signed with Kiwoom for a 1.6 billion won signing bonus, surpassing the previous record.

In particular, Ha drew attention in June when he chose to enter the KBO League despite receiving a 4 billion won offer from MLB powerhouse New York Yankees.

When Yoo Jae-suk asked, "I've heard reports that they offered your whole family a house to live in together in the US, unlimited round-trip airfare, and even a handwritten letter from the team owner," Ha smiled and replied, "I was just grateful for their kind consideration and interest."

Yoo then asked, "The New York Yankees are one of the best teams, right? You might have been tempted by such an offer. Did you consult with your parents?"

Ha said, "My parents have always respected my choices," adding, "My original dream was to play in front of Korean pro baseball fans. I think I couldn't resist that dream," eliciting admiration from the audience.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original