"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.

"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. This was because, more than the once-in-a-lifetime draft, he believes wearing the Taegeuk mark on his chest comes first.

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

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 starting lineup. Ha himself 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.

With a towering frame of 194 cm and 94 kg according to the Korea Baseball & Softball Association (KBSA), he throws a fastball clocking up to 152 km/h and two types of sliders. Combined with his deception moves, these are 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, an on-base percentage of 0.495, a slugging percentage of 0.593, and an 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 outstanding baseball sense. His slider this year was at a level that was difficult for players of his age to handle."

This is why the prestigious New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States submitted a formal offer worth 3 million dollars (approximately 41 billion won). However, Ha Hyun-seung chose the 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 either. 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 gained international experience competing against players one year older than him while facing both Japan and Taiwan. 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) and 2 RBIs.

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

The Lee Beon (CEO) team has only six professional pitchers. The role of an ace in Ha Hyun-seung's view was not about recording many strikeouts or throwing with high velocity. He stated, "When I get the chance to pitch in important games, I want to take responsibility and throw 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 reduce 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 met them last year. Ha Hyun-seung said, "Last year, I pitched against both Taiwan and Japan. My goal this year is to pitch in both games as well. I hope to take on the role of being the ace so that the team can win."

He is thoroughly prepared even for small 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 in balls, could feel it. He said, "Since the ball feels a bit smaller, I was psychologically unsettled. If I can get rid of that feeling, I think my usual pitching will come out. I have started training and am carrying the ball with me all day to get used to it."

Once he finishes his 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 with an awkward smile, "I think 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 calm."

However, he said it is not yet time to think about that moment. Ha Hyun-seung stated, "I think I will only truly feel it and sense it when I get there. For now, the important thing is the youth national team, so I am not focusing much on 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."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.