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

*This content was translated by AI.

The South Korean under-18 youth national baseball team, featuring numerous top prospects for the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft, secured a victory against professional players in their 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, defeated Ulsan Whales 6-2 in an evaluation 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 outcome 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) created a bases-loaded situation with no outs via a precise bunt single. Then Hwang Seong-hyun (18, Hwangseong High) delivered a two-run double that struck the left-field wall directly, 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 no outs. Lee Ho-min (18) then hit a two-run triple into center-left field. A run was added on Park Bo-seung's (18, Gyeongnam High) infield grounder, allowing the team to score five runs in a single inning.

After the game, Coach Jung told StarNews, "Players like Jo Hee-sung and Ahn Woo-seok demonstrated excellent execution of strategic plays. Since international competitions demand such skills, 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. He remained steady despite approximately 30 minutes of rain delay. According to Park after the game, since this was his first live appearance in a long time, he intentionally focused more on controlling breaking balls.

Kim Min-hoon (18, Gwangju Jinheung High), who came in as the final pitcher, also delivered a powerful performance: 1⅔ innings, two hits allowed, no walks, three strikeouts, and scoreless. Coach Jung expressed his expectations: "I think Park Geun-seo did his part well. Kim Min-hoon was also good. He kept striking batters out; if he can fine-tune his conditioning a bit more, it will be even better."

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

Coach Jung explained, "The official ball used in Taiwan is slightly smaller than ours. At first, I wondered if the players would struggle, 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 contact and extra-base hits. However, if he addresses these areas, he could improve even further."

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

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*This content was translated by AI.