'Thank you for staying, Ha-hyun-seung': Lotte beams at 4th overall pick, calmly watches promising pitchers who could threaten the Big 3 with MLB interest

*This content was translated by AI.

Ha-hyun-seung (18), a two-way pitcher from Busan High School who is a strong candidate for the first overall pick in the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft, has chosen to remain in Korea, bringing smiles to teams picking later as well.

The 2027 KBO Rookie Draft, scheduled for September this year, still shows a strong presence of pitchers even after the completion of the National High School Baseball Championship. Evaluations highlight the growth of pitchers, led by Busan High School left-hander Ha-hyun-seung, who throws up to 152 km/h, and Gwangju Il High School right-hander Park Chan-min (18), who won two national tournaments earlier this year.

However, the situation became complicated for KBO clubs when Park Chan-min chose to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB) last month for a signing bonus of $1.205 million (approximately 1.8 billion won). To make matters worse, Ha-hyun-seung, who had been consistently mentioned as a top candidate for the first pick, was reported to be receiving a strong offer from the New York Yankees, known for their high international signing bonuses, raising concerns.

This was because the existing Big 3—Eom Jun-sang (18) of Deoksu High School and Kim Ji-woo (18) of Seoul High School, who were classified alongside Ha-hyun-seung—had struggled during their third-year season. Dark horses that could threaten them were also a source of greater anxiety, as they lacked the extensive playing experience of the Big 3 players. However, Ha-hyun-seung's decision last month to reject a $2.3 million contract from the Yankees and choose to stay in Korea has relieved KBO scouts of their worries.

With Ha-hyun-seung deciding to stay in Korea, the Lotte Giants, holding the fourth overall pick, are beaming with joy. They can now calmly watch other promising pitchers who could threaten the existing Big 3. Regardless of how poorly Eom Jun-sang and Kim Ji-woo perform in the early part of the season, scouts both domestically and internationally agree that they still possess a clear potential advantage over other prospects. In fact, both Eom Jun-sang and Kim Ji-woo continue to attract interest from MLB scouts and are recognized for their potential.

While these players have temporarily slowed down, new contenders are emerging. Representative names include Inchang High School right-hander Yoon Ye-seong (17), Seoul Design High School left-hander Park Geun-seo (18), and Gwangju Jinheung High School right-hander Kim Min-hoon (18). Among them, Yoon Ye-seong and Park Geun-seo have drawn interest from MLB teams. Yoon Ye-seong, standing 191 cm tall and weighing 105 kg according to the Korea Baseball and Softball Association (KBSA), boasts a fastball reaching up to 154 km/h, which is his strength. He posted a 3-1 record with a 2.66 ERA in 9 games, recorded 21 walks and hit batters (17 walks, 4 hit batters) over 44 innings, struck out 54 batters, and maintained a WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) of 1.07, leading Inchang High School to the National High School Baseball Championship.

Although his performance so far is not yet sufficient, evaluations suggest that if he maintains consistent results through September, a top selection in the first round is possible. A KBO club scout stated, "Yoon Ye-seong shows noticeable stamina, capable of throwing several times at speeds over 150 km/h. He still has some rough edges and isn't fully polished yet, but he can throw a curveball, slider, and changeup with reasonable proficiency. He is a player expected to succeed as a starting pitcher."

Park Geun-seo is a left-handed pitcher with a towering 190 cm frame and a fastball reaching up to 149 km/h, which is his strength. He made a strong impression at his first national tournament, the Shinsegae E-Mart Cup. As of his third year, he has recorded a 3-0 record with a 2.57 ERA in 9 games, 10 walks and hit batters (8 walks, 2 hit batters) over 35 1/3 innings, struck out 54 batters, and posted a WHIP of 1.14. A KBO club scout explained, "Regardless of reputation, Park Geun-seo of Seoul Design High School was the best player at the E-Mart Cup. He throws sliders and curveballs that move with similar arm angles, making it difficult for batters to attack. He also confidently throws changeups, inducing swings and misses from right-handed batters."

Kim Min-hoon is a top-round talent emerging from Gwangju Jinheung High School since Moon Dong-ju (23, Hanwha Eagles). Standing 187 cm tall and weighing 100 kg, he possesses a kick changeup, a recent MLB trend, which is highly attractive. While his fastball speed is in the mid-140 km/h range and not particularly fast, he has generated many swings and misses, posting a 4-1 record with a 1.13 ERA in 11 games, 10 walks and hit batters (8 walks, 2 hit batters) over 48 innings, striking out 69 batters, and maintaining a WHIP of 0.85.

A KBO club scout stated, "Kim Min-hoon has the stamina and game management skills to pitch long innings as a starter. When starting, he controls his pace, throwing in the low 140 km/h range, but in shorter innings, he can reach the high 140s. He throws changeups, curveballs, and sliders, and his kick changeup against left-handed batters is particularly attractive."

In addition, players such as Lee Seung-won (18), a left-hander from Cheongryong High School aiming to return before the Cheongryonggi Cup after elbow surgery, Kwak Do-hyeon (18), a right-hander from Busan Technical High School, and Jung Il (18), a right-hander from Daegu High School, are waiting as first-round candidates who have just begun to show their potential.

Of course, there is also a possibility that Lotte may choose a hitter. The most certain candidate for the first round is Lee Ho-min (18) of Gyeongnam High School. He is evaluated as having the best hitting ability among this year's rookie draft candidates. He has proven his skills with statistics, batting .510 (26 hits in 51 at-bats) in 14 games, with 2 home runs, 18 RBIs, 10 runs scored, 4 stolen bases, 10 walks and hit batters (7 walks, 3 hit batters), 7 strikeouts, an on-base percentage of .581, a slugging percentage of .765, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 1.346, dominating the league.

His weakest point, third base defense, has also seen continuous improvement as he has logged 92 1/3 innings. A KBO scout declared, "Lee Ho-min hits the ball exceptionally well. His hitting ability alone has raised expectations for a late first-round pick. No one hits better this year. At most, only Eom Jun-sang and Kim Ji-woo could compare."

He added, "His hitting mechanics are smooth, and his ability to adjust his approach at the plate has improved significantly. Based on what he has shown so far, he is expected to adapt quickly to the professional level if we consider only his hitting."

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*This content was translated by AI.