*This content was translated by AI.
Despite intense interest from the New York Yankees, Ha Hyun-seung (18, Busan High), who has expressed his intention to challenge domestically, is widely considered the top pick in the upcoming rookie draft. Having improved on both pitching and hitting this season, he harbors dreams of following in the footsteps of Lee Do-ryu, known as "Hatani."
Ha Hyun-seung is currently training in preparation for the 18U Asian Youth Baseball Championship to be held in Taipei, Taiwan.
Although he received an acquisition offer from the prestigious Major League Baseball (MLB) club New York Yankees worth approximately $3 million (about 4 billion won), Ha Hyun-seung rejected it and decided to challenge the KBO League rookie draft instead. "I believe going to the U.S. after gaining more experience is a much better choice for me," he stated confidently, adding, "I want to hone my skills until I am eligible for posting after making my professional debut, so that I can receive truly great treatment and play baseball with genuine enjoyment in America."
While his peers of the same age are pursuing opportunities in the U.S.—such as Eom Jun-sang (Deoksu High) signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Nam Hyun-woo (Seoul Convention High) joining the Detroit Tigers—Ha Hyun-seung made the opposite choice. "I wanted to play baseball while receiving love from Korean fans," he explained. "Having seen that, I was not shaken at all by repeated offers from the U.S., nor did I have much hesitation." He continued, "I would have been the first to apply for the KBO draft myself. Moving to a foreign country is no easy feat, and Eom Jun-sang and Nam Hyun-woo, who came with me on the national team, have already made such significant decisions, which I think is truly admirable."
The reason for the intense interest from MLB clubs, including the Yankees, is clear: he has improved significantly in both pitching and hitting this year. First, his pitch velocity has noticeably increased. "Last year, I was worried because I couldn't consistently throw 150 km/h," he said. "However, I never forced my arm to throw harder." He added, "After taking time to rest, gaining weight, and doing extensive weight training, I can now comfortably throw 150 km/h. My fastest pitch reached 153 km/h."
Standing at an impressive height of 195 cm, he possesses immense merit simply by being able to throw comfortably at speeds of 150 km/h. As a "five-tool player," he has also drawn attention as a hitter. His batting average surged from 0.323 last year to 0.383 this season. Interest and ambition in dual pitching and hitting roles have grown significantly. "Last year, I had almost no desire to hit," he shared. "But this year, my strength has improved, and even when I make light contact, the ball travels quite far. I've always thought being a hitter is truly cool." Of course, it is not an easy path. Ha Hyun-seung admitted, "I want to excel at both, but it's not an easy task, so I can't say I'm confident. Still, I want to do my best until I reach my limit. If I join the professional league, it would be appropriate to discuss this with my team. If they allow it, I plan to give it a try," revealing his ambition without hiding it.
He is an overwhelming favorite for the top pick in the rookie draft scheduled for the 21st. It is already considered a foregone conclusion that Kiwoom Heroes, who hold the first overall selection right, will choose him; fans have even begun calling him "Kkim-Hyunseung." Ha Hyun-seung remarked, "I only learned about the existence of draft order when I entered high school. Until then, I just played baseball hard without any particular thoughts. My goal was to be selected in the first round, but I never imagined I would become a candidate for the overall number one pick. It's been so fun and I'm grateful for the attention I've received during high school." He added with a smile, "My first goal is to stay healthy and manage my body well after debuting next year. As of now, I feel confident about next year too, but we'll have to see once we actually face it."
For now, he is focusing solely on the tournament taking place on the 7th. He has vowed to lead the U-18 national team, which has no international championship title in eight years, to victory. "My first experience as a national team player was when I played for the U-15 national team in my third year of middle school," he recalled. "At that time, I was so nervous I could barely breathe." He continued, "Last year, having accumulated some records, I was selected for the U-18 national team and approached it with confidence, feeling I had something to show." Regarding this year, he stated, "Since I'm playing as a key member of the team, my sense of responsibility feels greater than my nervousness. Still, I am confident. I've prepared well, and my physical condition is excellent."
Ha Hyun-seung said, "I'm trying not to think about anything outside the tournament. With our most important match against Taiwan on the 7th approaching, everyone will be nervous, but if we don't get too excited and play as we did in practice games, I believe we can beat any team." He added, "After the tournament ends, I'll need to practice my acceptance speech for being drafted by the KBO. I want to memorize it beautifully and deliver it well. To ensure my mind doesn't go blank on stage, I must memorize it even more perfectly."
<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>
*This content was translated by AI.
