'Top Overall Pick Worth 500 Million Won': Why Did He Return to the First Team After Three Months on the Last Day of the First Half? "A Pitcher Who Is the Team's Future" [Suwon Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

Jung Hyun-woo (20), a pitcher for Kiwoom Heroes who was selected as the top overall pick in the rookie draft, returned to the first team after three months on the final day of the first half.

On the 9th, ahead of their match against KT Wiz at Suwon KT Wiz Park, Kiwoom registered Jung Hyun-woo in its roster. Pitchers Park Jin-hyung and Bae Dong-hyun were removed from the first team.

Seol Jong-jin (53), manager of Kiwoom, said, "It does not mean he will definitely pitch today (the 9th); his appearance will depend on the situation. We are thinking of him pitching for one or two batters, possibly up to an inning."

Jung Hyun-woo, a left-handed pitcher selected as the first overall pick in the 2025 rookie draft and signed with Kiwoom for a signing bonus of 500 million won, made his season debut on April 2 against SSG Landers as a starting pitcher. He pitched five innings, allowed six runs, and took the loss before leaving the first team due to an elbow injury. After completing treatment and rehabilitation, he appeared in Futures League games: one scoreless inning against Hanwha on June 28 and two innings allowing two runs against Sangmu on the 2nd.

Explaining why he registered Jung Hyun-woo just a day before the All-Star break, Manager Seol Jong-jin said, "He is a pitcher who represents the team's future. It would be better for him to pitch in the first team rather than staying in the second team. Since he has already handled up to two innings in the Futures League, it would also be beneficial for the pitching coaches to see how he performs in the bullpen. Considering all these factors, we decided to call him up."

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*This content was translated by AI.