*This content was translated by AI.
"In the past, schools in Changwon struggled to find even exhibition games. It is completely different now."
This reflects the profound sense of change felt by a local amateur baseball official. Just 15 years ago, Changwon baseball often saw its best players leave for other regions. Today, however, it has transformed into a breeding ground for promising talents that KBO scouts must closely monitor. At the center of this transformation is NC Dinos' continued support for regional baseball in Gyeongnam Province this year as well.
On the 10th, NC announced: "Through our corporate social responsibility program 'D-NATION,' in partnership with consumer goods company Pigeon, we donated hand sanitizer to nine high school baseball teams in Gyeongnam Province, putting community sharing into practice."
The recipients include GeojeBC, Gimhae High School, Masan High School, Masan Yongma High School, Mulgeum High School, Changwon Industrial High School, Miryang BC, Yaro BC, and Geumnam High School. The donation aims to help maintain hygiene for high school athletes who engage in frequent outdoor activities such as training and games, while creating a comfortable training environment. The same products have also been installed in restrooms within ChangwonNC Park.
More striking than the items themselves is the long-standing relationship NC has built with schools in this region. When NC settled in Changwon as the 9th team in the KBO in 2011, the state of local amateur baseball was vastly different from today. Although traditional baseball teams like Masan High School and Masan Yongma High School existed, many players left for Busan or Daegu even at the middle school level. This led to a vicious cycle where difficulties in securing players weakened competitiveness in national tournaments.
The atmosphere began to shift gradually after NC's founding. With professional baseball now accessible up close, more local children started playing baseball. New high school teams emerged, including Changwon Industrial High School, Miryang BC, GeojeBC, and Geumnam High School.
Competitiveness of existing schools also improved. Masan High School won the President's Cup in 2021, bringing joy to regional baseball by reaching the pinnacle of national tournaments. Recently, it produced An Hyeon-min (23, KT Wiz). Masan Yongma High School has consistently ranked among the top teams since the 2020s, achieving runner-up finishes at national tournaments four times.
Promising talents heading toward professional leagues and Major League Baseball have also increased. Jang Hyun-seok of Masan Yongma High School signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023. Since then, players from local schools such as Kim Ju-o, Cha Seung-jun, Choi Ju-hyeong, and Shin Yong-seok have been consistently selected in early rounds of the KBO rookie draft. This year too, Lee Yun-seong and Kim Kyung-rok from Masan High School, along with Lee Yun-sang, Noh Min-hyeok, and Choi Min-sang from Masan Yongma High School, are being watched as potential candidates for the 2027 KBO rookie draft.
In fact, NC has maintained its connection with local schools even after abolishing the first-round draft system. It continues to run the 'Dream Ball' program, which annually provides exhibition games to middle and high school baseball teams and girls' baseball teams in its home region. The club also supports joint graduation ceremonies for local Little League teams and provides hoodies to schools.
While this year's donation may not appear grand in terms of scale or items, the small contributions made continuously since 2011 have gradually transformed Changwon's baseball environment.
Baek Jong-deok, NC Ma Ke-ting (Team Lead), said: "We are grateful to Pigeon for joining our corporate social responsibility program D-NATION and supporting products for high school baseball teams in Gyeongnam Province and spectators visiting ChangwonNC Park. As Pigeon's interest and participation provide tangible benefits to the community, we will continue public welfare activities through D-NATION by partnering with various companies to contribute to the local area."
Choi Yong-deuk, Ma Ke-ting (Team Lead) of Pigeon, stated: "It is meaningful that we can engage in activities beneficial to the community following the launch of Pure Hand Soap. We hope that high school baseball players in this region, who engage in frequent outdoor activities, can focus on their training in a more comfortable and hygienic environment, and that spectators visiting ChangwonNC Park can enjoy games in an even cleaner setting. Going forward, Pigeon will continue diverse activities as a consumer goods company to contribute to hygiene and the creation of comfortable living environments in daily life."
NC continues various activities with the local community through its corporate social responsibility program D-NATION. Since its founding in 2011, NC's community contributions have been managed and operated more systematically since establishing the social branding 'D-NATION' in 2022.
Focusing on three key themes — 'Walking Together,' 'Sharing,' and 'Future' — the club consistently plans and implements programs for promotion and activity support, product sharing and donation initiatives, and environmental and educational programs. NC stated: "We plan to continue diverse public welfare activities that can provide tangible benefits to the community in the future."
This is why a region where finding exhibition game opponents was once difficult now produces top draft candidates every year. The 15-year transformation of NC alongside local baseball continues even today.
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*This content was translated by AI.
