'Full of 1R Candidates' Korean U-18 National Team Defeats Pro Team in First Live Game; Coach Jung Yun-jin Had Something Else to Celebrate [Ulsan Field Report]

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The South Korean under-18 youth national baseball team, brimming with top draft prospects for the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft, secured a victory against professional players in its first live game. However, what head coach Jung Yun-jin (55) welcomed most was not just powerful home runs or blazing fastballs.

The youth national team, led by Coach Jung, came from behind to defeat Ulsan Whales 6-2 in an exhibition match held at Ulsan Munsu Baseball Stadium on the 27th. This was their first practice game after initially syncing up on the 26th at Busan Gijang Ballpark.

The game turned around in the bottom of the seventh inning when the national team trailed 1-2. Leadoff hitter Jo Hee-sung (18, Yushin High) used his speed to reach base with an infield hit and advanced to second on a fielding error. Ahn Woo-seok (18, Gyeongnam High) then created a bases-empty situation with a well-placed bunt single. Following that, Hwang Seong-hyun (18, Hwangseong High) smashed a two-run double off the left-field wall, instantly taking a 3-2 lead.

The rally did not end there. Eom Jun-sang (18, Deoksu High) successfully executed a sacrifice bunt to reload the bases with runners on first and third. Lee Ho-min (18) then drove in two runs with a three-run triple hit toward left-center field. Adding another run on a groundout by Park Bo-seung (18, Gyeongnam High), the team scored five runs in just one inning.

After the game, Coach Jung told StarNews, "Players like Jo Hee-sung and Ahn Woo-seok demonstrated excellent execution of strategic plays. In international tournaments, such skills are crucial, so I felt we must leverage them well. Of course, since it was our first game, we need to see a few more matches."

There was also success on the mound. Park Geun-seo (18, Seoul Design High), a first-round candidate for the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft, started and pitched three scoreless innings in just 34 pitches. Although his top velocity reached only 143 km/h, he efficiently retired batters with precise control using effective corner work. Even after a roughly 30-minute rain delay, he remained steady. According to Park after the game, as this was his first live appearance in a long time, he intentionally focused more on controlling breaking balls.

Closing pitcher Kim Min-hoon (18, Gwangju Jinheung High) also delivered a powerful performance, pitching 1⅔ innings with two hits allowed, no walks, and three strikeouts while remaining scoreless. Coach Jung said, "I think Park Geun-seo did his part well. Kim Min-hoon was also good. He kept striking batters out, and if he can fine-tune his conditioning a bit more, it would be even better."

Challenges were clear as well. The official baseball used in this tournament is slightly smaller with less stitching than domestic high school baseballs, requiring pitchers to adapt. Kwak Do-hyun (18, Busan Public High) struggled to leverage his usual strengths, allowing three hits and one walk over two innings while surrendering two earned runs.

Coach Jung explained, "The official ball used in Taiwan is slightly smaller than ours. At first, I wondered if the players would find it difficult, but after a few days of pitching, they are adapting. Some players still need more time to adjust."

He added, "Kwak Do-hyun's pitch patterns were somewhat monotonous; he seemed to focus more on control than throwing his slider with power. As a result, the angles weakened, leading to solid hits and extra-base hits. However, if he addresses these areas, he could improve even further."

The national team will face four more live games against NC Dinos and Lotte Giants Futures teams, Busan University of Science and Technology, and Dong-A University before departing for Taiwan on September 5. Their goal is to reclaim the Asian title for the first time since 2018, eight years later. In this initial test, they confirmed not only their victory but also identified their unique style of play that works in international tournaments and areas requiring improvement.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original