*This content was translated by AI.
Gwangju Jinhung High is poised to produce a first-round pitcher in the KBO Rookie Draft for the first time in five years since Moon Dong-ju (23, Hanwha Eagles), who throws a 160 km/h fastball. However, Kim Min-hoon (18), a junior at Jinhung High who has recently appeared, is challenging for a first-round selection with a completely different charm.
Kim Min-hoon will participate in the 2026 Asian Baseball Federation (BFA) U-18 Asian Baseball Championship to be held in Taipei, Taiwan from the 7th to the 13th. Coach Jeong Yun-jin (55) of Deoksu High is leading the Lee Kkeu-neun (CEO) team in a bid to reclaim the title for the first time since 2018, eight years later.
According to the Korea Baseball and Softball Association (KBSA), Kim Min-hoon stands at 187 cm tall and weighs 100 kg. In high school, he recorded a record of 4 wins and 2 losses in 15 games with an ERA of 1.34 over 66⅔ innings, allowing only 13 walks (11 walks and 2 hit-by-pitches), striking out 86 batters, and posting a WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) of 0.90.
His maximum velocity is 148 km/h. Considering that pitchers throwing over 150 km/h are emerging frequently in recent high school baseball, this is not an overwhelming number. However, Kim Min-hoon strikes out batters with his ability to throw various pitches—including a fastball, curveball, slider, and changeup—to the desired locations.
A KBO team scout who met Kim Min-hoon during recent youth national team training evaluated him: "Min-hoon has a high level of changeup completion and can throw various pitches into the strike zone, making his game management a strength. He demonstrated this well even in practice games."
Especially eye-catching is his kick changeup. He fully developed it during rehabilitation after undergoing surgery on the medial collateral ligament (MCL) of his right elbow as a freshman. Initially, he threw a circle changeup, but found it unsuitable, so he changed his grip and created his own weapon with a fast speed in the early 130 km/h range and significant drop. His slider also has such a sharp angle that batters mistake it for a splitter.
The results appeared in numbers. Over 66⅔ innings, he allowed only 11 walks. In contrast, he recorded 86 strikeouts. Despite his debut in national high school tournaments being delayed until the 2nd year due to the Phoenix Cup because of surgery aftermath, he was recognized for his high potential and natural hand dexterity, eventually rising to become a first-round candidate.
The player himself feels he has achieved greater growth this year beyond just velocity. Kim Min-hoon, who met StarNews at Ulsan Munsu Baseball Stadium recently, said, "My goal was 150 km/h in velocity, but I haven't achieved that yet," while adding, "In terms of game management, although not 100%, I think I've achieved more than 80% of my goals. Excluding velocity, the growth aspect has been good."
Instead, targets he considered even more important than 150 km/h have gradually become reality. One of them was being selected for the youth national team. Kim Min-hoon said, "Seniors told me high school passes by quickly, and experiencing it myself, it really did pass by in a flash," adding, "It was good to be able to play baseball with friends I've been with for a long time until the very end. Now my remaining goal is a first-round selection."
Before that, there is something he must resolve: standing atop Asia by surpassing Japan and Taiwan. Kim Min-hoon has no intention of abandoning his strengths even on the international stage; rather, he plans to leverage them more thoroughly. He stated, "Realistically, Japan and Taiwan are better than us, so I think we should compete with command rather than power," and added, "There are many pitchers there who throw much faster balls, so it seems we need to operate through command."
It's not just talk. In his first practice game against the Ulsan Whales on the 27th of last month, Kim Min-hoon pitched scorelessly over 1⅔ innings with 2 hits allowed, no walks, and 3 strikeouts. Rather than overpowering batters with velocity, he showed the kind of performance expected by the national team by throwing the ball to the locations he wanted.
The Lee Beon (CEO) team has only six pitchers, making each individual's contribution even more critical. Kim Min-hoon emphasized, "Since there aren't many pitchers, we need to be more cautious and earnest. I will try my best not to cause any harm to the team."
Once the national team schedule concludes, the Rookie Draft awaits. If he receives a first-round selection based on current evaluations, Gwangju Jinhung High will produce a first-round prospect for the first time in five years since Moon Dong-ju in the 2022 KBO Rookie Draft.
Moon Dong-ju competed with Kim Do-young (23, KIA Tigers) for the top pick in the region at that time, expected to throw a fastball reaching up to 160 km/h. He later grew into an ace of the national team, turning his potential into reality.
Coincidentally, Kim Min-hoon had already formed a connection by attending the same training center as Moon Dong-ju. Their bond strengthened when he enrolled at Gwangju Jinhung High, and before going to the United States for shoulder surgery this year, he received spikes as a gift from him and occasionally has video calls.
However, he is not currently imagining the color of his uniform. Kim Min-hoon said, "Since results come from what I have done so far, I am both excited and worried. Since nothing is confirmed yet, I am very nervous," but also revealed his bold ambition: "My goal for now is to win a gold medal at this tournament. I will do my best to definitely secure it."
<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>
*This content was translated by AI.
