From draft rejection to Lotte official player! The reverse drama of Cho Min-young, a former Japanese independent league player: "I want to leave an impact"

*This content was translated by AI.

After the pain of being left undrafted in the draft and spending time in Japan's independent league, a development player has finally realized his dream of becoming an official first-division player. Outfielder Cho Min-young (21), who recently dominated the Futures League with powerful displays, has officially been added to the Lotte Giants roster.

On the 17th, ahead of their away game against the Daegu Samsung Lions at the '2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League' Samsung Lions park, Lotte announced the official registration and first-division call-up of outfielder Cho Min-young. Although the match was canceled due to rain, it must have been an exciting day for Cho Min-young.

Kim Tae-hyung (59), Lotte's manager, also expressed high expectations for Cho Min-young's addition. Speaking to reporters on-site ahead of the 17th game, when asked about Cho Min-young, Manager Kim replied, "He has been performing exceptionally well in the minor league, and reports have been coming in continuously. He is currently regarded as the best hitter in the minor league, which is why he was suddenly promoted to the first division." It appears he will be included in the first-division roster initially to assess his playing potential.

Having achieved the milestone of becoming an official player, Cho Min-young conveyed through the club: "This was the moment I had been most looking forward to since joining the professional league, but now that I've heard the news of my call-up to the first division, it still feels unreal." He continued, "I contacted my parents first, and they were happier than anyone else. My teammates also sincerely congratulated me, and I am truly grateful. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to my parents who have always silently supported and encouraged me from behind," bowing his head in appreciation.

After graduating from Sinil High School, Cho Min-young was not selected by any professional club. He spent a year and a half with the Ibaraki Astro Planets of Japan's independent league (BC League), gaining valuable real-game experience and nurturing his determination.

He stated, "My desire for baseball and competitive spirit grew even stronger after playing in Japan's independent league. The high number of games allowed me to consistently accumulate practical experience, which was a great help. Facing Japanese pitchers known for their excellent breaking balls and precise control also helped me develop the ability to respond to various situations." He revealed that this journey has made him stronger.

In fact, Cho Min-young was one of the hottest hitters in the Futures League this season. Playing in 59 games, he recorded a batting average of 0.345 (76 hits in 220 at-bats), 6 home runs, 36 RBIs, a slugging percentage of 0.536, and an on-base percentage of 0.404, dominating the Southern League with overwhelming statistics. Cho Min-young currently leads the Southern League in batting average for this season, with an OPS (on-base plus slugging) reaching as high as 0.940. Notably, in his final game on July 16 against KT Wiz in the Futures League, he went 3-for-5 with a home run, 1 RBI, and 2 runs scored, showcasing peak batting form before finally stepping onto the first-division stage.

Now that Cho Min-young has finally stepped onto the first-division stage, he declared, "Since this is just the beginning, I will do my best in every moment. I will strive to become a player who leaves an impactful impression and remains in fans' memories for a long time."

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*This content was translated by AI.