"Why didn't I think he was a rookie?" Putting such extraordinary trust in a rookie with zero first-division appearances: Kim Min-jun's unique promise [Jamsil Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

"Why didn't I think he was a rookie? (laughs)."

This is the gaze of SSG Landers manager Lee Sung-yong (55) as he looks at rookie Kim Min-jun (20). Although the pitcher has no record of appearing in the first division, it shows how exceptional the expectations for him are.

Kim Min-jun is scheduled to make his first-division debut as the starting pitcher in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League away game against LG Twins, to be held on the 9th at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Songpa-gu, Seoul.

A native of Daegu, Kim Min-jun, who showed outstanding performance last year, was highly praised as a complete player, winning the Baseball category of the 2025 Futures Star Awards, defeating Park Jun-hyun (Kiwoom) and others. SSG selected Kim Min-jun with the 5th pick in the first round.

The problem was injury. Manager Lee Sung-yong had early on designated Kim Min-jun as the fifth starter, following Mitch White, Anthony Venegas, Kim Geon-woo, and Kim Kwang-hyun. However, after Kim Kwang-hyun underwent surgery due to a shoulder injury, Kim Min-jun also had to delay his debut due to a shoulder injury.

He finally began pitching after mid-last month. In the KIA Tigers game on the 22nd, he pitched 1⅔ innings allowing one run. In the KT Wiz game on the 3rd, he pitched 2⅓ innings, allowing eight hits, three walks, and seven earned runs, leaving some regret. Nevertheless, manager Lee Sung-yong called up Kim Min-jun on this day and immediately assigned him the starting opportunity.

When asked about the rookie, the manager spent some time introducing Choi Yun-seok, a sixth-round rookie registered alongside Kim Min-jun on this day. When asked again about Kim Min-jun, he said, "Why didn't I think he was a rookie?" and explained, "I just couldn't think of him as a rookie. It seems he was different from the moment I saw him at the U.S. camp. Not only in the videos, but even when I saw him at the camp, anyone could tell he didn't look like a rookie, with his pitch repertoire value and how he operated on the mound."

He continued, "When I spoke with Bong Jung-geun (minor league) coach, he said that among the rookies he has seen recently, Kim Min-jun's class is different in terms of asking questions and doesn't seem like a rookie. So, although there were some mis-hit hits before he came up to the first division, when I saw how he operated on the mound, I said he would have enough competitiveness in the first division. Anyway, I had planned to use Kim Min-jun as the fifth starter if he hadn't been injured. So, coming here, I am thinking of throwing around 70 pitches today, and if necessary, up to 80 pitches."

Since he is the Tuesday starter, if it were by order, he would also pitch on Sunday, the 14th, against the Daegu Samsung team. However, manager Lee said, "It seems a bit too much to pitch on Tuesday and then again on Sunday. For now, I will consider other options for Sunday." He added, "(He won't be sent down to the) minor league; there is a high possibility he will pitch next Tuesday. Since he is a player recovering from injury, I want to give him a break. Because he is a rookie, I have no intention of overworking him."

He did not offer any special words, fearing it might become a burden. "I haven't given him any special advice. I deliberately avoided it. Because I thought it would be better not to show my face to Min-jun, I just smiled and told him to prepare well in Incheon," he said, "There is trust and belief, which is why I am using him as the starter. Even if he doesn't pitch well, I will see him again," showing his firm belief.

SSG lined up Park Sung-han (shortstop), Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Guillermo Heredia (left fielder), Kim Jae-hwan (designated hitter), Jeon Ui-san (first baseman), Jo Hyung-woo (catcher), Kim Sung-wook (right fielder), Jung Jun-jae (second baseman), and Choi Yun-seok (third baseman) for the lineup on this day.

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*This content was translated by AI.