"Don't lie to me. How could I be the first pick in Round 2?" Even now, 22 years later, that day remains vivid. There was a time when KBO second-base legend Jung Geun-woo cried his eyes out. [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

"Please don't lie to me. How could I be the first pick in the second round?"

Even Jung Geun-woo (44), now remembered as one of KBO League's representative second basemen, once went through a time when he was not selected by any professional team.

During his time at Busan High School, Jung served as team captain and led the squad to two national tournament championships. However, due to his small stature of 172 cm, he received no draft selection from any professional club upon high school graduation.

He even considered giving up baseball. But Jung chose to enroll at Korea University and ran for another four years. Then, in the 2005 KBO Rookie Draft held in 2004, he was selected by SK Wyverns (now SSG Landers) as the first pick of the second round, overall seventh.

The memory of that day remains clear even 22 years later. At the time, Jung, a senior at Korea University, was playing an exhibition game against Doosan Bears in Icheon. Back then, players did not go to the draft site; they learned the results later.

Jung recalled, "Normally, during games, you weren't allowed to take out your phone from your bag. But that day, since the draft selection was pending, I was too curious. The announcement came around 1 p.m., and suddenly my phone kept vibrating. Messages poured in saying 'Congratulations on being selected by SK,' but I couldn't tell exactly which pick number it was."

The ones who told him the result were Lee Jong-do (74), then Korea University's head coach, and Park Cheol-hong (56), the university's pitching coach. Jung said, "Coach Park Cheol-hong told me, 'Congratulations. You're the first pick in the second round by SK.' I replied, 'Don't lie to me. How could I be the first pick in the second round?' Then he told me to confirm directly with Coach Lee Jong-do. That's when I found out. I remember crying uncontrollably after hearing that." He smiled while recalling it.

It wasn't just the joy of being drafted. The memory also brought back the four years he endured after failing once upon high school graduation. Jung said, "I thought I would definitely be selected in high school, but I failed. Even in college, I had the thought that 'this can't keep happening like this.'"

He continued, "Fortunately, after being selected, all the efforts I made over those four years came back to me. I remembered preparing for baseball again without giving up in high school. It was a time when I only focused on becoming a professional player, and I felt so grateful to myself for enduring through it."

SK's selection changed not only Jung's life but also the future of Korean baseball. During his time with SK, he experienced three Korea Series championships in 2007, 2008, and 2010. He grew from a top-tier second baseman in the league to a starting player for the national team. He won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, silver at the 2009 World Baseball Classic, and gold at the 2015 Premier12. In KBO League, he recorded a career batting average of .302 with 1,747 games played, 1,877 hits, 121 home runs, and 371 stolen bases. He also won three Golden Glove awards as a second baseman.

From a player who was not selected by any professional team upon high school graduation, he eventually rose to become one of the 40th legends selected for the KBO's 40th Anniversary All-Star Game. That is why Jung understands better than anyone else the feelings of young players waiting for professional selection today.

And now, there was something he wanted to say to young players just stepping into the professional world. Jung said, "I believe sports are played to win. Only when you win do fans get excited." He added, "In the past, we spent a lot of time thinking about what to prepare and what strategies to set for an entire year in order to defeat our opponents. Players must also work harder according to their assigned roles. Teams must be built without any weaknesses at each position so that opponents cannot easily break through."

He also recalled the "closeness" and "hungry spirit" of the era when he played. He said, "Of course, one could say 'that was back then.' But I believe the essence of sports itself hasn't changed much."

For Jung, the "hungry spirit" did not simply mean that past players worked harder at baseball. It was closer to the idea that, just like himself who prepared for four more years without being selected once, even if no opportunity is visible right now, one must find and prepare for their assigned role and not miss it when the chance comes.

Not being selected once does not mean the end. Jung was drafted in the first round four years later and became Han Guk-eul (CEO), a second baseman. That is why his story serves as a message in itself to young players who have not yet received professional selection today.

We asked 44-year-old Jung what he would say if he could meet himself again — the one who was not selected by any professional team after high school graduation. Jung replied, "I was Jung Geun-woo, who wasn't selected because of my small height and even considered giving up baseball completely. Still, I want to tell myself that I am so grateful for choosing university and enduring through those days to show a different side." He smiled and added, "Even if we could go back, it would be a painful and difficult time again, but I think I would run forward once more without giving up on baseball. I want to praise you for showing such a face."

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*This content was translated by AI.