'Will there be an Ohtani of the KBO?' Ha Hyun-seung, who rejected NYY's 4.6 billion won offer, is highly likely to join Kiwoom → Manager: "Trying dual pitching and hitting is also possible"

*This content was translated by AI.

The arrival of a 'monster genius' unprecedented in Korean baseball history on the KBO League is entering its final countdown. Ha Hyun-seung (18), a promising dual pitching and hitting player from Busan High School, who made headlines by rejecting a shocking contract offer of $3 million (approximately 4.6 billion won) from the New York Yankees, a prestigious Major League Baseball (MLB) club, and choosing to stay in Korea, is the one at the center of it all. Kiwoom Heroes, which holds the first overall pick in the 2027 rookie draft scheduled for September, is highly likely to sign him, and Kiwoom Heroes manager Seol Jong-jin (53) has unexpectedly hinted at the possibility of attempting a dual pitching and hitting role.

Manager Seol Jong-jin of Kiwoom Heroes shared his candid views on how to utilize Ha Hyun-seung in an interview with reporters ahead of the '2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League' match against LG Twins held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 2nd.

When asked by reporters, "It is highly likely that Ha Hyun-seung will join Kiwoom; do you think a two-way player is possible within the Korean professional baseball environment?" Manager Seol immediately replied without hesitation, "If such a type of player emerges in the future, I personally would be willing to try it," offering a very progressive answer.

Born in 2008, Ha Hyun-seung is widely recognized as the top prospect among high school players scheduled to graduate. He has displayed outstanding skills both as a pitcher and a batter on the high school stage, earning the nickname 'Busan High Ohtani.' His overwhelming pitching presence on the mound, along with his formidable power-hitting instincts at the plate, have led baseball experts to hold sharply divided opinions, ranging from "his hitting talent is superior" to "his future as a pitcher is brighter."

Since the draft has not yet taken place, Manager Seol, who has always maintained a cautious stance in evaluating specific players, also expressed a careful position at this point. While stating, "It might be a bit early to mention that player," he added, "I plan to watch videos and other materials with interest and discuss it with the club," subtly indicating that internal analysis of Ha Hyun-seung has already begun.

In particular, Manager Seol bolstered the possibility of Ha Hyun-seung's challenge by directly citing the case of superstar Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers), who completely shattered the fixed stereotypes of modern baseball.

Manager Seol noted, "I understand that when Ohtani first attempted dual pitching and hitting in Japanese professional baseball, many legends in the Japanese baseball community advised against it," and then emphasized, "However, I recall that his manager at the time strongly persuaded the player to 'give it a try' and pushed forward." This reflects the view that the decision of on-site coaches who trusted the player's talent and gave him a chance despite surrounding concerns and opposition created today's Ohtani.

Manager Seol continued, "Hasn't the world-class superstar Ohtani already proven a clear success story?" He added, "If a player with such overwhelming talent emerges in Korean professional baseball, it would be even better for the entire baseball community. Personally, if the player has the will and talent, I am very positive toward (the two-way role)."

Until now, parallel pitching and hitting have been considered an reckless challenge and a taboo area due to physical limitations and injury risks not only in Korea but across the global baseball world. However, with the impending arrival of a 'genius prospect,' the manager has directly expressed indirect will, making it highly intriguing whether the birth of a 'Korean Ohtani' that fans have longed for will come to pass.

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

*This content was translated by AI.