"I was almost decided to go to the U.S...." Rejected ML 2.1 billion won offer, Kim Ji-woo of Seoul High 'Why' no regrets? [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

Kim Ji-woo (18, Seoul High), a top candidate for the first overall pick in the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft, said he has no regrets about his decision to give up on going directly to the U.S.

Kim Ji-woo recently met with StarNews and said, "I wanted to be recognized for greater value in the future and play baseball happily rather than earning money right now," adding, "I judged that proving myself first in the KBO League before heading to the U.S. was a better choice for me."

In June this year, multiple Major League Baseball (MLB) teams offered Kim Ji-woo a contract worth at least $1.5 million (about 2 billion won). The $1.5 million figure ranks as the third-largest signing bonus ever for a Korean amateur player, following Sung Byung-hyun of Sungkyunkwan University's $2.25 million (about 3.3 billion won) in 1999 and Ryu Je-guk of Deoksu High's $1.6 million (about 2.4 billion won) in 2001. This year, his competitor and friend Eom Jun-sang (18, Deoksu High) also received the same amount to join the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Kim Ji-woo initially leaned toward going to the U.S. MLB teams presented not only their intention to develop him as a position player but also concrete growth plans. He said, "I knew it was really good terms. That meant they evaluated me highly, so I seriously considered advancing to the U.S. I also felt a desire to play baseball within America's excellent system. I believe that is a thought any baseball player could have," revealing his honest feelings.

He added, "They told me that my tools do not lag behind those of MLB prospects when compared. In particular, they said my power would work even in the U.S. They discussed in detail what my current strengths and weaknesses are and how to develop them."

He could not ignore realistic factors. With numerous prospects entering annually from U.S. colleges and Latin America, proving himself first in the KBO League became a viable option. He continued to deliberate by coldly comparing the pros and cons with friends who chose either direct entry to the U.S. or staying domestically.

Kim Ji-woo said firmly, "At first, I intended to sign and go to the U.S. However, when my departure to the U.S. was almost decided, I felt regret that it would be really fun to play baseball while being cheered by KBO League fans. Still, I do not regret the choice I made."

In the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft scheduled for September this year, Kim Ji-woo is evaluated as a strong candidate to compete for the first overall pick with Ha Hyun-seung (18, Busan High). A KBO team scout stated, "Although he could not show many performances due to injuries this year, he is a player with excellent physical conditions and potential. It does not seem likely that his draft position will drop easily."

The fact that domestic teams also see the same possibility for Kim Ji-woo, who has solidified his path as a position player, bolstered his decision to stay. Before his injury, Kim Ji-woo appeared in 12 games as a batter, recording a .429 batting average (42 at-bats, 18 hits), 2 home runs, 17 RBIs, 12 runs scored, and 2 stolen bases, with an on-base percentage of .451, slugging percentage of .714, and OPS of 1.165. As a pitcher, he recorded 2 wins and 1 loss in 8 games, with an ERA of 4.91 over 11⅓ innings and 15 strikeouts, making him a promising two-way player.

Kim Ji-woo explained, "MLB teams clearly conveyed from the start that they intend to develop me as a position player. On the other hand, KBO teams were not certain whether they would view me as a pitcher or a position player." He continued, "However, acquaintances and various media outlets told me that many in Korea also see me as a position player. That point also influenced my decision to stay."

His determination to play as a position player is clear. He entered this season with greater emphasis on position player training. He said, "Since I was young, I felt excited and had fun playing as a position player. When pitching, I personally did not feel much enjoyment." He emphasized, "I really love baseball. Playing as a position player allows me to appear in games almost every day and receive fan support. It suits my personality better, and I have confidence in it."

Currently, Kim Ji-woo is undergoing rehabilitation for a finger fracture. He was injured during the high school-college all-star game last June and received a diagnosis requiring 6 to 8 weeks for recovery. While upper-body exercises are limited due to his inability to exert force on his finger, he is concurrently performing running, lower-body training, and forearm muscle rehabilitation while preparing for the latter half of the Bonghwangdaegi tournament and participation in the Asian Youth Baseball Championship.

Kim Ji-woo said firmly, "My bone did not heal as quickly as I thought, so I had to rest a lot in between. I was told it was not a nerve injury, just that time was needed. My first goal is to finish high school well by playing games together with my Seoul High friends until the end."

He further vowed, "Since I chose to stay in Korea, I will do my best so that no regrets remain about my decision. As a rookie, I believe there are roles that young players must fulfill. I will run as if crazy, literally," solidifying his resolve.

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*This content was translated by AI.