"135km → 151km in 2 years" captured Yeom Kyung-yeop and "participated in spring camp." LG 11R rookie "I'll look like Ko Woo-seok's straightforward."

*This content was translated by AI.

"I want to be like Ko Woo-seok."

In 2026, LG Twins rookie Kim Dong-hyun (21) aimed to become a closer like Ko Woo-seok (28, Tolido Mud Hens).

Kim Dong-hyun recently met with Star News ahead of the 2026 KBO Rookie Orientation held at Daejeon Convention Center and said, "It was really surprising at first that I was going to spring camp. And thank you," he said in a short speech.

LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop (58), who led the Korean Series to last year's championship, recently vowed to take two rookies to the Arizona Spring Camp. They were left-hander Kim Junsung Park (19) in the second round of the 2026 KBO Rookie Draft and right-hander Kim Dong-hyun in the 11th round.

Unlike Junsung Park, which is expected to have immediate power, it was surprising that Kim Dong-hyun in the 11th round was mentioned. Kim Dong-hyun is a right-hander with a sturdy build of 192cm and weight of 95kg based on the Korea Baseball Softball Association (KBSA). He played in nine league games over the past two years at Busan National University of Science and Technology, recording one win, one loss with a 5.73 ERA and 23 strikeouts with 21 pitches (seven balls on 14 walks) in 22 innings.

Even in high school, there was nothing special. All he did was play six games and eight ⅔ innings in his third year due to a side injury for three years at Gwangju Il High School. Cho Yoon-chae, head coach of Gwangju Il High School, also told Star News on the phone, "(Kim) Dong-hyun was good in high school, but he was not arrested. During training, there was an injury to the side muscle, and the speed was only about 130 kilometers per hour," he recalled.

However, high school teachers counted on Kim Dong-hyun's sincerity and LG's growth. Coach Cho Yoon-chae said, "But he was a very sincere player. At that time, I remember playing as a starter in the first tournament because my ball control was good," he said. "When I talked to the Busan National University of Science and Technology director on the phone later, I heard that the child was sincere and improved a lot. "I heard that my ball speed has increased a lot, but I even joined a professional team," he said, unable to hide his joy at his student's explosive growth.

Despite frequent injuries, he quietly focused on training, which produced better-than-expected results. The speed limit, which was only 135 kilometers per hour when he was a senior in high school, came out to 151 kilometers last year. Coach Yeom Kyung-yeop was captivated by his fast-paced fastball vertical movement. Immediately after the nomination, the LG scouts said, "Kim Dong-hyun has soft pitching motion and arm swing. He is a player who pitches aggressively on the mound with confidence. "I have good hitting power and pitch consistently at high RBIs," he said.

When asked about the secret, Kim Dong-hyun said, "There wasn't much change. As I kept doing what I originally did, I was caught up little by little without realizing it. Last year, it came out to 151km, and I was surprised myself," he said with an awkward smile. "I went to college and took a lot of exercise time. I did a lot of technical training, but I tried to work harder even if no one saw the weight training I had done since high school. I think the effort has also been buried in the pitch," he said with strength.

Currently, Kim Dong-hyun can throw fastballs, sliders, curves, and splitters. Despite his various pitching styles, he dreams of becoming a finishing pitcher who throws powerful balls based on strong fastballs. Kim Dong-hyun said, "The thing I'm most confident about right now is the 12-6 curve. The role model is Ko Woo-seok, and I want to be a closer because I think his straightforwardness is really cool. This year, I will work hard and aim to become the first team," he said, expressing his strong ambition.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.