'Draft Participation' Choi Jee-man Designation Could Come Sooner? Speculation Even Rises for Mid-First Round → Will He Erase Defensive Doubts at the Tryout?

*This content was translated by AI.

KBO League clubs are increasingly turning their attention to Choi Jee-man (35, Ulsan Whales), a power hitter with Major League Baseball experience. As he finally delivers his first Korean league home run and boosts his batting average, the expected draft pick position has moved sharply forward, with talk now even emerging about a mid-first-round selection. The remaining focus is whether he can eliminate the 'defensive question mark' at the rookie draft tryout scheduled for September 1.

According to the Ulsan Whales organization, Choi Jee-man will participate in the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft Tryout to be held on September 1 at Goyang National Baseball Training Center. The mere appearance of a veteran who hit 67 home runs in 525 career MLB games has already stirred excitement across the professional baseball world ahead of the draft event on September 21.

His real-game validation is also proceeding smoothly. After joining the independent Ulsan Whales this season and sharpening his game feel in the Futures League, Choi Jee-man hit a massive three-run home run to seal a team victory against Hanwha Eagles on the 15th, recording his first arc just 15 games into his debut. As of August 29, his Futures League stats over 20 games include a .308 batting average (12 hits in 39 at-bats), one home run, seven RBIs, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.847, leading to evaluations that his hitting touch has fully returned recently.

As his hitting pace surges, the draft landscape is also shifting. With top prospects like Hyeon-seung Ha from Busan High and Ji-woo Kim from Seoul High firmly securing the first and second overall picks, clubs in urgent need of an immediate impact hitter are now discussing Choi Jee-man's selection moving far beyond the originally expected lower rounds, even reaching talk of a 'mid-first-round' pick. A senior official from a regional club recently stated about Choi Jee-man, "We're keeping a close eye on him, and he seems likely to be selected earlier than expected." A key official from a Seoul-area club also told StarNews, "He will absolutely not fall as low as the second round."

Despite the spotlight, Choi Jee-man himself has adopted a cautious stance. Through his team, he recently said, "Honestly, talk of being picked in the first round is quite burdensome, and I wish such discussions wouldn't arise. In a way, I've gotten older, and the draft should be an even more important opportunity for young student-athletes, so I feel somewhat apologetic." Despite his personal wishes, evaluations continue to rise.

The remaining key variable is his defensive ability. Having primarily served as a designated hitter or pinch-hitter in the Futures League, Choi Jee-man addressed first base defense by stating, "I know many scouts want to see my defensive performance, but after consulting with the manager, we are planning to take a long-term view through next year and prepare slowly."

Therefore, this September 1 tryout is expected to become a decisive stage for scouting teams to closely examine not only Choi Jee-man's hitting power but also his physical condition and first base defensive movements. Ulsan Whales manager Jang Won-jin added encouragement, saying, "Since he has prepared diligently, I hope he can fully showcase his strengths at the tryout."

As Choi Jee-man, who has warmed up with powerful hitting, faces the question of whether he can completely erase doubts about his defense at the tryout and realize a first-round selection, attention from the baseball world is intensifying.

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*This content was translated by AI.