'1R Draft Candidate' Park Geun-seo: 3 Scoreless Innings; Lee Ho-min Drives in 3 Runs with 3 Hits for Explosive Performance! U-18 Korean National Team Comes from Behind to Defeat Ulsan 6-2 [Ulsan On-Site Review]

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Led by head coach Jung Yun-jin (55), the South Korean U-18 youth national baseball team secured a satisfying first victory against a professional team. Park Geun-seo (18, Seoul Design High School) and Lee Ho-min (18, Gyeongnam High School), both candidates for the first round of the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft, led their team to victory with outstanding pitching and hitting performances as expected.

The youth national team came from behind to defeat the Ulsan Whales 6-2 in an exhibition match held at Ulsan Munsu Baseball Stadium on the 27th.

Coach Jung, who took charge of the youth national team for the first time in 13 years, conducted his first training session on the 26th at Busan Gijang Ballpark. This day marked the team's first practice game. Following this match, the team will play four additional practice games against NC Dinos Futures Team, Lotte Giants Futures Team, Pusan National University of Science and Technology, and Dong-A University before departing for Taiwan on September 5th, the site of the decisive tournament.

The national team will compete in the 14th Asian Youth Baseball Championship, scheduled to take place in Taipei, Taiwan, from September 7th to 13th. Placed in Group B with Taiwan, Singapore, and Thailand, South Korea aims for its first championship title in eight years since the 2018 tournament, which was led by Won Tae-in (Samsung Lions) and Kim Chang-pyeong (SSG Landers).

Team captain Eom Jun-sang (18, Deoksu High School), who has confirmed his signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB), will serve as both starting shortstop and pitcher. Ha Hyun-seung (18, Busan High School), a top overall draft prospect who turned down a $3 million offer from the New York Yankees, will focus exclusively on pitching during this tournament. Additionally, Kim Ji-woo (18, Seoul High School), another two-way player, voluntarily withdrew due to physical condition issues, leaving the team with only six pitchers.

The turning point came in the bottom of the 7th inning when the national team trailed 1-2. Leadoff hitter Jo Hee-sung reached base with an infield hit on a ground ball that slipped past the second baseman toward second base. A throwing error by the opposing second baseman allowed him to reach second safely. An Woo-seok then laid down a bunt single to load the bases with no outs, and Hwang Sung-hyun followed with a massive two-run double that struck the left-field wall, giving the team a 3-2 comeback lead.

Earlier, Eom Jun-sang had drawn three walks to create another scoring opportunity with no outs and runners on first and third via a bunt single. Lee Ho-min then drove in two more runs with a two-run triple off pitcher Park Sung-woong. A large-bouncing ground ball hit by Park Bo-seung struck the first baseman's glove and deflected, allowing Lee Ho-min to score and extend the lead to 6-2.

Starting pitcher Park Geun-seo (18, Seoul Design High School) delivered an efficient performance against professional players, pitching three scoreless innings without issuing a walk or strikeout. Despite entering after a 30-minute rain delay, he retired many batters with just 34 pitches. Even in the biggest crisis of the game—the bottom of the 2nd inning with two outs and runners on third—he escaped without allowing a run by inducing a ground ball to second base. Kim Min-hoon, who appeared as the final pitcher, also showcased powerful pitching over 1⅔ innings, allowing only two hits, no walks, three strikeouts, and remaining scoreless.

Among position players, Lee Ho-min excelled with three hits in four at-bats and three RBIs, leveraging his experience as the third hitter for Gyeongnam High School. After a disappointing double play in the first inning, he delivered timely hits in every scoring opportunity. Eom Jun-sang also demonstrated solid defense at shortstop while reaching base three times on one hit, two walks, and one hit-by-pitch.

Challenges also emerged. This tournament uses the Brett Sports BR-100, the official ball of Taiwanese amateur baseball, which has smaller stitching and a smaller size compared to the balls used in South Korean high school baseball, requiring pitchers to adapt. Second pitcher Kwak Do-hyeon (18, Busan Public High School) failed to utilize his usual strengths, pitching two innings with three hits allowed, one walk, one strikeout, and two earned runs, leaving much to be desired.

The national team lineup consisted of: Kang In-gyu (second base), Hwang Sung-hyun (right field), Eom Jun-sang (shortstop), Lee Ho-min (first base), Woo Ju-ro (designated hitter), Park Bo-seung (left field), Nam Hyun-woo (third base), Won Ji-woo (catcher), and Jo Hee-sung (center field). Starting pitcher: Park Geun-seo.

Ulsan countered with the following lineup: Park Jae-hyung (left field), Lee Min-seok (first base), Kim Seo-won (right field), Ye Jin-won (designated hitter), Kim Si-wan (center field), Noh Kang-min (third base), Min Sung-woo (catcher), Shin Jun-woo (shortstop), and Park Moon-soon (second base). Starting pitcher: Lee Seung-geun.

The national team's offense struggled early to score. In the top of the 1st inning with one out and a runner on first, Lee Ho-min hit into a double play. In the top of the 2nd inning with two outs and runners on first and second, Jo Hee-sung's single to center field failed to produce a run as runner Park Bo-seung was thrown out at home plate.

In the top of the 3rd inning, Eom Jun-sang drew a walk after a full count, and Lee Ho-min capitalized on an error by the opposing shortstop who failed to field a ball that bounced between the shortstop and left fielder, creating scoring opportunities at second and third. However, Woo Ju-ro struck out swinging, and the team failed to score.

Eventually, the lead was lost. Kwak Do-hyeon, who entered in the bottom of the 4th inning with one out, allowed a three-run triple by Kim Seo-won that struck the center-left field wall. When Ye Jin-won hit a large-bouncing ground ball to first base, Kim Seo-won scored from third, making it 0-1.

The national team quickly tied the game. In the top of the 5th inning, after Jo Hee-sung drew a walk and stole second base, followed by Eom Jun-sang drawing a walk to load the bases with two outs, Lee Ho-min hit a one-run single to center field, tying the score at 1-1.

However, Ulsan regained the lead. In the bottom of the 5th inning with one out, Kwak Do-hyeon allowed an infield hit by Min Sung-woo and a two-base hit to left-center field by Shin Jun-woo. A diving catch attempt by third baseman Nam Hyun-woo failed as the ball struck his glove and deflected away. Kwak then walked the bases loaded and gave up one run on a wild pitch but managed to retire Bae Young-bin with a looking strikeout, preventing further runs.

The national team succeeded in scoring five runs during their final offensive inning in the bottom of the 7th, and the game ended as heavy rain poured down once again.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original