"I think of runners as scenery": A terrifying 19-year-old high school graduate rookie with a .400 batting average in scoring position received advice from a national team shortstop

*This content was translated by AI.

There is a terrifying rookie who shows a crazy presence whenever there are runners in scoring position. KT Wiz's Lee Kang-min (19) is that person.

Lee Kang-min graduated from Songho Elementary, Ansan Jungang Middle, and Yushin High School before joining KT as the 16th pick in the second round of the 2026 KBO Draft. He began standing out alongside Shin Jae-in (19, NC Dinos) and Oh Jae-won (19, Hanwha Eagles) since his first year of high school and was deployed in official games.

His greatest strength was considered to be his defense, reminiscent of KBO's representative shortstop, Manager Park Jin-man (50). His quick judgment of batted balls and game situations, combined with stable handling, earned high praise for a defense that made viewers feel at ease. His hitting also improved significantly during his third year of high school, where he played as the fourth hitter for Yushin High. After the draft, Lee Chung-moo, head of the KT scouting team, told StarNews, "In fact, Kang-min was somewhat overshadowed by Shin Jae-in and Oh Jae-won during high school. But it was Kang-min who consistently delivered RBIs as the fourth hitter at crucial moments. He is physically solid for his build and has strength, so he knows how to put weight on the ball."

He has shown the expected performance since entering the pros. His stable defense earned him a passing stamp from the first closing camp he participated in after turning pro last year. He was included in the first-division opening roster this year and has appeared in all 22 games so far. His hitting has exceeded expectations. He is currently recording a .250 batting average (72 at-bats, 18 hits), 11 RBIs, 7 runs scored, a .276 on-base percentage, and a .264 slugging percentage, which is not bad for a high school graduate rookie right-handed hitter.

In particular, his experience as a cleanup hitter during his Yushin High days and his hitting mechanism that allows him to generate power despite his small frame shone in scoring position. Lee Kang-min struggles with a .118 batting average when there are no runners, but his average jumps to .400 (8 hits in 20 at-bats) when there are runners in scoring position. With runners on base, his average is .368, and with the bases loaded, his batting average is an impressive .500.

Ahead of the match against Suwon KIA on the 22nd, we asked Lee Kang-min about his secret. Lee Kang-min drew a line by saying, "I don't think it's about focusing in scoring position, but rather a coincidence," and explained, "When I was a senior in high school, I always felt burdened stepping into the batter's box when there were runners. With that experience, I feel more at ease now."

He added, "Recently, opposing pitchers keep throwing me breaking balls. I thought about that and stepped in, but since I kept missing, my pride was hurt. Still, the hit I made went to a spot where there were no fielders, resulting in an infield hit, which was good."

Advice from national team shortstop and Yushin High senior Kim Ju-won (24, NC) was also a great help. Kim Ju-won is a player who gives careful advice not only to high school players from the club's home region of Changwon but also to his Yushin High juniors, earning high regard among his juniors. Hong Seok-moo, Yushin High's director of development, even remarked, "(Shin) Jae-in is adapting well thanks to (Kim) Ju-won."

Kim Ju-won's mentoring reached Lee Kang-min, who is over 330 kilometers away (the distance between Changwon NC Park and Suwon KT Wiz Park). Lee Kang-min said with a bright smile, "I asked (Kim) Ju-won hyung how to hit when there are runners. He told me not to think about the runners, but to consider the runners standing there as just one kind of scenery. He said I should just hit the same way as when there are no runners, so I am practicing that. It feels really good when a runner waves and comes home."

The trust of the KT coaching staff, including Manager Lee Kang-cheol (60), and his seniors has helped the 19th-year-old rookie grow steadily. Manager Lee Kang-cheol said, "Lee Kang-min once struck out on a high pitch with one out, the bases loaded, and a full count early in the season. It's not easy for a rookie to do that. Seeing that, I thought, 'Ah, this kid is different.'" He continued, "Lee Kang-min doesn't change his face even in chances. In fact, he gets upset if he doesn't capitalize on a chance. There are players who are strong even in the same situation. Kim Ha-seong was like that before."

In response, Lee Kang-min said shyly, "I don't feel upset. I think they just saw me saying 'Thank you for your hard work,' which made it look that way." He emphasized, "I am only grateful that the manager always looks out for me in terms of physical condition. The seniors always tell us to relax because they will hold the fort. Every time I hear that, I feel more sorry for the pitchers, so I am concentrating as much as possible."

As a result, Lee Kang-min's uniform is always covered in dirt after games. Clean uniforms are seen more often in the stands. Lee Kang-min smiled and said, "When I see fans wearing my uniform, it feels like they are buying a lot, but I still can't quite believe it. Still, every time I see them, I am truly grateful and feel good."

Among KT's seniors and fans, Lee Kang-min is called "Little One" or "Mole." Moreover, Lee Kang-min's focused gaze whenever he receives instructions from the third-base coach has become a topic of discussion in every game.

Lee Kang-min said, "I was surprised to find out I was staring like that when I watched the video. I was concentrating so I wouldn't miss the signs." He added, "I kept my eyes fixed because I truly believed I couldn't make a sign mistake."

He continued, "The manager and coaches call me 'Little One' from time to time, and I feel good about that. The seniors call me 'Mole' more often than my name. They say I look like a mole, but I'm not sure. Still, I think it's a cute nickname," and smiled shyly.

Despite his growing fame, he strives to focus on the games. Regarding his resolve for a full-time season, Lee Kang-min said, "I will focus on resting well when I rest and try to collide head-on. I will accept mistakes as learning and move on. If I make an error, my mindset is 'Come again.' Even in high school, the manager always emphasized the next play after a mistake. I will accept mistakes as rationally as possible and shake them off."

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

*This content was translated by AI.