'55m in 6.56 seconds' Seoul High's 'Seoul High Jung Soobin' Kwon Sang-hyeok, betting his final chance with even faster legs: "My goal is to be selected regardless of the round" [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

Kwon Sang-hyeok (18), an outfielder at Seoul High known for possessing top-tier high school base-running tools, is betting his final chance on even faster legs ahead of the 2027 KBO Draft.

Kwon Sang-hyeok is a left-handed pitcher and left-handed batter with a solid build—178 cm tall and weighing 76 kg according to the Korea Baseball & Softball Association (KBSA). His speed is his greatest asset. In November last year, he drew attention by topping the 55th-meter sprint test with a time of 6.69 seconds in front of scouts at the Seoul Mayor's Cup High School Autumn Baseball Tournament.

Six months later, now in his third year, he has become even faster, clocking 55 meters in 6.56 seconds—the best among high school players. With few players possessing such clear tools ahead of the September 2027 KBO Draft, Kwon's speed stands out as particularly attractive. This season, he appeared in 16 games, posting a .377 batting average (23 hits in 61 at-bats), 9 RBIs, 21 runs scored, 13 stolen bases, a .472 on-base percentage, a .475 slugging percentage, and an OPS of 0.947. While he demonstrated strong on-base ability and base-running competitiveness, he remains unsatisfied with his performance.

In a recent interview with StarNews, Kwon Sang-hyeok reflected: "I didn't steal as many bases as I had hoped. Still, since all my attempts were successful, I'm satisfied with that part." He added, "It's regrettable that I attempted so few steals overall."

The reason for fewer stolen base opportunities was not a lack of on-base chances. Kwon recorded an on-base percentage close to .500. Instead, he avoided running blindly, carefully considering the situation with runners ahead and the game context. "In critical moments, if I get caught stealing, it could negatively impact the team," Kwon explained. "Naturally, I must align with the team's situation." Yet he remained confident: "But when it comes to my speed, I truly have no doubts. I've gotten even faster after preparing over the winter."

Not everything went smoothly. Seoul High failed to achieve expected results in national tournaments, resulting in limited playing opportunities for Kwon. When opposing pitchers threw slower pitches than anticipated, he sometimes struggled to find his timing.

Kwon frankly admitted: "Against teams with slower pitchers, my timing was often off. I think the pressure to deliver results made me anxious, which prevented me from performing well."

Fortunately, as the second half of the weekend league progressed, he gradually regained his hitting form. He refocused on his role: waiting for good pitches, getting on base, and then disrupting opposing pitchers while on base. A KBO scout noted: "Kwon's speed and center field defense are definitely attractive. He also shows natural talent at making contact."

Now, Kwon's focus turns to the upcoming Bonghwangdaegi Tournament. This will be his final major stage to erase regrets over underwhelming results in national tournaments and firmly imprint his presence on scouts' minds.

Kwon stated: "I want to show my best self as is. My role is to get on base, turn those opportunities into runs, and disrupt opposing pitchers while on base." He added, "I hope to climb even higher at the Bonghwangdaegi Tournament alongside my teammates."

His desire to emulate his role model, Doosan Bears' Jung Soobin (36), remains unchanged. He originally started playing baseball watching Jung Soobin and has always insisted on playing center field. "I still admire Doosan and Senior Jung Soobin," Kwon said. "As I've accumulated more game experience, my defense has become much more stable." He concluded with determination: "If I make it to the pros, I want to be remembered as a player whose uniform is always dirty from running hard. I will show you my relentless effort."

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*This content was translated by AI.