"I want to cry if I get picked" — Top overall pick Ha Hyun-seung, an unexpected remark... He vows to wear the Taegeuk mark with renewed determination: "I will give my all in the Japan and Taiwan games." [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

"I want to cry if I get picked. My parents and I have worked so hard for eight years..."

Ha Hyun-seung (18, Busan High School), who is a strong candidate for the top overall pick in the upcoming 2027 KBO Rookie Draft, opened up about his unexpected inner thoughts as he looked ahead to the draft. However, he quickly composed himself. His reasoning was that the Taegeuk mark pinned to his chest takes precedence over the once-in-a-lifetime draft.

Ha Hyun-seung will compete in the 2026 Asian Baseball Federation (BFA) U-18 Asian Baseball Championship, held from the 7th to the 13th in Taipei, Taiwan. Head coach Jung Yun-jin (55) leads Lee Kkeu-neun (CEO) as they aim to reclaim the title for the first time since 2018.

Ha Hyun-seung's shoulders are already heavy from the very first game. Coach Jung has effectively designated the opening match against Taiwan as the turning point of this tournament and has signaled that Ha will be in the lineup. Ha, too, plans to set aside his evaluation as a top overall pick candidate for now and focus solely on his role as the ace of the national team.

His qualifications are more than sufficient. As a pitcher this year, Ha posted 4 wins with no losses in 14 games, an ERA of 0.39 over 45⅔ innings, 12 walks and 77 strikeouts, and a WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) of 0.72, delivering dominant pitching.

Standing at 194cm and weighing 94kg according to the Korea Baseball & Softball Association (KBSA), he combines his towering frame with a fastball clocking up to 152km/h and two types of sliders. When combined with his deception, this is considered top-tier for his age group. As a batter, he recorded a .383 batting average (31 hits in 81 at-bats) over 24 games, with 3 home runs and 21 RBIs, along with an on-base percentage of 0.495, slugging percentage of 0.593, and OPS of 1.088, leading Busan High School to the semifinals of the Phoenix Cup.

A KBO team scout praised him, saying, "He could be called the second Choo Shin-soo. It's not just because he attended the same high school as Choo. Despite his large frame, he possesses excellent athleticism and flexibility, and he is also fast on his feet. He throws a fastball with a strong arm and has exceptional baseball sense. His slider this year was at a level that was difficult for players of the same age to handle."

This is why the prestigious New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB) offered a formal contract worth $3 million (approximately 4.1 billion won). However, Ha Hyun-seung chose KBO over the U.S. and now awaits the draft as a strong candidate for the top overall pick.

This is not his first time wearing the Taegeuk mark. Last year, as a high school sophomore, he participated in the 2025 WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup and showed good form on the mound. He faced both Japan and Taiwan, gaining international experience against older players. As a pitcher, he appeared in relief in four games, pitching 6⅓ innings with 3 hits allowed, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts, 2 runs allowed (1 earned), an ERA of 1.17, and a WHIP of 0.83. As a batter, he played two games, recording a .500 batting average (1 hit in 2 at-bats) with 2 RBIs.

A year later, Ha Hyun-seung's position has become even more solid. Meeting StarNews recently at Ulsan Munsu Baseball Stadium, Ha said, "Now that I am a third-year student and have become a core member, I feel a greater sense of responsibility. My mindset is less about coming to enjoy it and more about wanting to perform really well."

Lee Beon (CEO) has only six professional pitchers on its roster. The role of an ace, as Ha Hyun-seung sees it, is not about accumulating many strikeouts or throwing with high velocity. He stated, "When I get called upon for important games, I want to take responsibility and pitch many innings." He emphasized, "I would like to record many strikeouts, but what I really want is to carry the team through many innings myself and relieve the burden on the relievers who come after me."

He does not discriminate against opponents. He expressed a desire to face Japan and Taiwan again this year, having experienced them last year. Ha Hyun-seung said, "Last year, I pitched against both Taiwan and Japan. My goal for this year is to pitch in both games. I hope to take on the role of being the ace so that our team can win."

He is preparing thoroughly even for minor variables. He noticed that the official ball used in this tournament felt smaller than the ones he usually uses. Even he, who is typically insensitive to differences between balls, could feel it. He said, "Since the ball feels a bit smaller, I am psychologically uneasy. If I can get rid of that, I think my usual pitching will come out. I have started training and am carrying the ball all day to get used to it in my hand."

Once he finishes this final international tournament wearing the Taegeuk mark, the KBO Rookie Draft awaits him. For Ha Hyun-seung, the moment his name is called as the top overall pick will inevitably be special.

Ha Hyun-seung said, "I feel like I want to cry if I get picked, but I don't think tears will come out. My parents and I have worked so hard for eight years. While thinking about that, I want to shed tears, but constantly imagining that scene beforehand makes me feel more composed instead." He showed a somewhat awkward smile.

However, he said it is not yet time to think about that moment. Ha Hyun-seung stated, "I think I will only realize and feel it when I get there. For now, the important thing is the youth national team, so I am not paying much attention to the draft side." He added, "I feel I have grown significantly compared to last year. Short tournaments are battles of condition, so I have prepared my body to be at its peak level. Having grown much more, I will show my skills with confidence."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original