"Good rough diamonds all went to the pros." The harsh reality of college baseball, so why do KBO scouts still visit U-leagues?

*This content was translated by AI.

"Good rough diamonds have already all gone to the pros."

When asked about the reality of college baseball, Lee Seung-jong, head coach of Busan University of Science and Technology (Busan과기대), answered bluntly. Yet, with only about two months remaining until the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft, scouts are still roaming not just Seoul Sinwol and Mokdong stadiums where high school national tournaments are held, but also Boeun in Chungbuk where college U-leagues are underway.

This year, as the growth of third-year high school players failed to meet expectations, interest in college players has grown larger than usual. However, the likelihood of a college player receiving a top selection within the first three rounds remains low. This is because no player has yet emerged as clearly standout like Park Jung-min (23), who joined Lotte Giants with the 14th overall pick in the second round last year. This year too, college players ready for immediate contribution are likely to be selected in the middle or lower rounds.

This reality differs from the United States, where high school players drafted in lower rounds often grow into first-round caliber after entering college, and from Japan, where top selections consistently emerge from its college league. While differences in player depth and infrastructure play a role, the primary reason is that most promising talents head straight to the professional leagues upon high school graduation.

Coach Lee stated, "It will not be easy for a college graduate to be selected in the first round for some time. In the past, there were cases where players chose to attend college even after being drafted by a pro team, but now good rough diamonds have already all gone to the pros." He added, "For a college player to be selected in the first round, their velocity, pitch quality, and overall readiness must be significantly higher."

Recently, a trend has emerged where high school players who were not drafted by professional teams are choosing two-year colleges instead of four-year universities. This is driven by the expectation of quickly reattempting to join the pros within two years. However, those working in amateur baseball hold a different view.

Coach Lee explained, "The recent increase in selections from two-year colleges was because the player pool at that time was strong. Even I thought there were several players who should have been drafted but weren't. Those players mostly went to two-year colleges and achieved good results." He continued, "There are not many players who intentionally choose two-year colleges just to reach the pros. Most come because they could not gain admission to four-year universities."

High school head coaches who must look after their students who did not make it to the pros share a similar perspective. Son Kyung-ho, head coach of Daegu High School, said, "Two-year colleges have many players but fewer official games, making it difficult to show significant improvement within two years. Therefore, I tend to recommend four-year universities, considering even the future for those who ultimately do not make it to the pros."

So why do KBO scouts still travel across the country to college leagues? It is because players who could not showcase their potential due to injuries or lack of playing opportunities during high school may blossom later after physical growth and training. Even if such cases number only in single digits, they are invaluable resources for the KBO League, which lacks a broad player base.

College players also have unique advantages. Having experienced one failed draft selection, they possess strong determination, and living alongside general students helps them develop social skills and adaptability. A KBO team scout noted, "College players play baseball with genuine urgency. That kind of dedication also boosts team morale."

Coach Lee emphasized, "I have heard from professional club officials that college players are quick to read situations and understand well that even slight shortcomings lead to elimination, which helps in changing team dynamics. While there may still be a difference between college players and high schoolers selected in higher rounds even after two years, I believe they are fully competitive when compared to players selected in lower rounds."

Ultimately, changing perceptions comes from skill and results. In this regard, Park Jung-min's case provides significant momentum for college baseball. This year, despite being a college graduate rookie, he established himself in the first division with 39 games played, 5 wins, 2 losses, 9 holds, 1 save, and an ERA of 4.46 in the first half of the season.

When asked what is needed to change perceptions about college baseball, Coach Lee stated, "Players like Park Jung-min are crucial. If a player like Park succeeds in the pros, it will set a standard that 'we can indeed select players of this caliber from college.'"

He added, "It is natural not to select players who lack skill. I do not intend to complain about that. However, there are capable and skilled players among college athletes as well, so I hope they receive a bit more attention in that regard."

Recently, the active recruitment of development players by KBO teams and moves to expand third divisions have also been welcomed by college baseball. Coach Lee expressed his feelings, "When discussing college baseball, we must face reality. We cannot simply complain. It is truly something we are grateful for when professional teams select many development players. For college players, if they cannot become development players, they really have nowhere else to go."

He further stated firmly, "The fact that wearing a professional uniform itself is an extremely precious experience for college players, whether it lasts three or six months. For this door to open wider, both players and coaches must perform better. Rather than blaming reality, we must prove ourselves through skill."

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*This content was translated by AI.