"I'll go to the U.S. even if I throw 148 kilometers." Lee Seung-won's 'rehabilitation cruise' is a big three threat, and will he be able to return to the Golden Lion in May

*This content was translated by AI.

Yoo Shin-go Lee Seung-won (18), who is classified as the biggest left-hander in the 2027 KBO rookie draft, is on a cruise.

Since mid-December last year, Lee Seung-won has begun full-fledged ITP (Interval Throwing Program) training. It is expected that he will be able to throw the ball as early as March and play in the 80th Golden Lion (May 2 to May 16). Director Yoo Shin-go Hong Seok-moo recently said on the phone with Star News, "Seung-won (Lee) is doing very well in rehabilitation."

Of course, it is the position of the baseball team under coach Hong Seok-moo that they will never rush. The Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) surgery on the left elbow, which was originally carried out on June 13 last year, was also decided as such. Lee Seung-won's elbow sent an abnormal signal in the final of the Golden Lion against Seongnam High School on May 19 last year. The surgery could have been delayed a little more or paid. However, to worried Lee Seung-won, head coach Hong Seok-moo decided to leave the second-year ace's season out with comfort, saying, "You've shown something, so let's relax and get surgery."

Director Hong Seok-moo's words were not a pretense. During his freshman year, Lee Seung-won had a 1.35 ERA in seven games and 17 strikeouts in 19 ⅔ innings with a fastball of 130 kilometers per hour, which has already attracted the attention of scouts. The second-year season was even greater before the surgery. He used a fastball with a maximum speed of 144km/h and slider-curve-changeup evenly, marking 3 wins and 2 losses with a 3.21 ERA and 3 walks and 39 strikeouts in 27 ⅔ innings.

In it, there was perfect pitching with nine strikeouts and no outs in six innings against E-Mart Bae Hwimungo. In response to the surprising performance, a Major League (ML) scout A told Star News at the time, "It's a pity that Lee Seung-won has not yet been arrested. You can go to the U.S. with just 148 kilometers per hour," he said with force. Multiple KBO scouts also said, "You can covet it in the Major League just by throwing 148 kilometers per hour."

Lee Seung-won's strength is his excellent physical condition of 190cm and weight of 90kg and his fast growth rate. Lee Seung-won's maximum fastball speed was only 130 kilometers per hour when he graduated from the third year of middle school, but it exceeded 140 kilometers in a year. Batters who faced him with a high fastball rotation speed and vertical movement often describe him as "being chased" when facing Lee Seung-won.

Above all, his attitude is highly evaluated on the mound based on the highest level of ball control in the same age group. Scouts say they can even afford to count with their most confident fastballs and curves, and strike out with sliders with good angles. As a result, it is considered to be the No. 1 candidate who will threaten the Big 3 called Ha Hyun-seung (18) of Busan High School, Um Jun-sang (18), and Kim Ji-woo (18) of Seoul High School, beyond just the biggest left-hander. Expectations remain despite the increased variables due to elbow surgery.

A KBO scout B said, "It depends on how much you perform after elbow surgery, but one of the most likely players to be No. 1 along with Ha Hyun-seung, Um Jun-sang, and Kim Ji-woo is Yoo Shin-go Lee Seung-won." He then said, "He was a player who came out about 130 to 132 kilometers per hour in the first grade, but he gained speed and grew quickly. He added, "I had surgery, but the score is inevitably high because I have good control of my speed and am close to the starting pitcher."

There is still the possibility of going to the United States. Another ML Scout C said, "Lee Seung-won is the top lefty among the current (January). He said, "My ball control is so good." ML Scout A, who was contacted again earlier this year, also said, "I rather like Lee Seung-won than the big three. I think the possibility has decreased after the surgery, but I still want to take him if he returns and throws 148 kilometers per hour in his condition. I think he has very good qualities as a pitcher," he said.

The continued failures of high school players in the U.S. and the success of seniors passing through the KBO League have also changed the minds of amateur prospects and parents recently. In the meantime, several prospects, including Lee Seung-won, began the third-year season with good reviews, and 10 KBO teams entered a fiercer information war.

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*This content was translated by AI.