'The ace of the national team overshadowed by Ha Hyun-seung': Gwangju Jinheung High School's Kim Min-hoon, can he cause a major upset in Round 1? [KBO Rookie Draft]

*This content was translated by AI.

He entered the game with one out and bases loaded, then recorded consecutive strikeouts to rescue the U-18 national team. This was the moment Kim Min-hoon (18, Gwangju Jinheung High School) truly revealed his worth to baseball fans.

Kim Min-hoon will participate in the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft, scheduled for 2 p.m. on the 21st at the World Crystal Ballroom of Lotte Hotel Seoul. Despite starting his activities late due to surgery, he has shown a steep growth trajectory and is aiming for a first-round selection.

Just a few months ago, Kim Min-hoon was not well known even to professional team scouts. He underwent surgery on the medial collateral ligament (MCL) of his right elbow in June 2024 and only returned to the mound in the latter half of last year.

However, after carefully completing rehabilitation, Kim Min-hoon grew at a frightening pace. His elbow pain completely disappeared, and he has impressed fans in every game since. Standing at 187 cm tall and weighing 100 kg, his fastball may not yet consistently exceed 150 km/h, but he throws with solid weight behind the ball, showcasing heavy ball finish. He has dominated high school baseball with a large-break slider and now his signature kick changeup.

As a sophomore, he appeared in only four games and posted an ERA of 1.80 over 5⅓ innings, showing his potential. This year, he blossomed.

He pitched 66⅔ innings in 15 games, recording 4 wins and 2 losses with an ERA of 1.34. He struck out 86 batters while issuing only 9 walks. His WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) was just 0.90. In the most recent tournament, the Bonghwangdaegi Cup held in August, he threw 91 pitches over 7 innings, allowing 4 runs (2 earned) with 8 strikeouts. Although Kim Min-hoon was pulled from the game and his team ultimately lost 1-9 to Gwangju Dongseong High School after conceding five more runs, it was a game that clearly demonstrated his true ability.

Later, at the Asian Youth Championship wearing the national emblem, Kim Min-hoon delivered the most reliable performance after Ha Hyun-seung (Busan High School), who is widely expected to be the first overall pick in the draft. In particular, during the first Super Round game against Japan, with his team trailing 0-2 in the bottom of the second inning and one out with bases loaded, Kim Min-hoon entered as a fireman. He struck out two consecutive batters — the opposing number 2 and 3 hitters — using his signature changeup to extinguish the threat. He also completed innings without allowing runs in the third and fourth innings before handing over to Ha Hyun-seung from the fifth inning, leading the national team to a comeback victory.

Kim Min-hoon received high praise from the team's head coach: "In today's game, Kim Min-hoon's performance was most crucial when he entered with one out and bases loaded after giving up two runs. If the score gap had widened further from that point, it would have been a difficult game. Thanks to Min-hoon holding the line, our offense also started to produce, leading to the victory." Kim Min-hoon responded, "Honestly, I was disappointed because I didn't get many opportunities, but I did my best with the mindset of seizing any chance I got, and it led to good results. We've experienced situations like this often as a team. If we become intimidated, the outcome would be worse, so I believe having confidence and throwing aggressively contributed to the positive result. Not avoiding the situation and pitching aggressively was effective, and I trusted my strength — the changeup."

While there is significant uncertainty for lower picks in the first round, even if a certain order is anticipated, Kim Min-hoon is still not considered a guaranteed first-round candidate. However, he continues to show a steep growth trajectory, and the Asian Youth Championship served as a definitive showcase for that.

What makes Kim Min-hoon stand out most is his stable control and fearless mentality. In a previous interview with StarNews, Kim Min-hoon said, "I think walks are the worst thing for a pitcher. It's better to get hit by a hit than to issue a walk. I am confident in taking an aggressive approach through pitch location and command rather than giving up walks." He then proved this ability on the tense stage of international tournaments.

The value of his pitches is also significant. Rather than obsessing over hitting 150 km/h, Kim Min-hoon focused more on how to generate power. Even as a sophomore, he had already perfected his fastball with an RPM in the 2500th range. Batters facing him consistently remarked, "The ball feels heavy; it looks much faster than its actual speed."

Kim Min-hoon stated, "I am not at a stage where I need to force changes to my form or be greedy for velocity." He added, "There is still much technical room for improvement compared to my physical attributes. Once I join the pros and learn from excellent coaches, I am confident that my velocity will naturally increase."

The reason he can avoid fixating on velocity lies in his well-developed breaking balls. He possesses a slider with significant drop, earning him evaluations like "your forkball is good." His changeup, which he adopted latest of all, was refined through several adjustments and settled into a kick changeup, becoming his most formidable weapon. For someone who underwent elbow surgery, this pitch type is also meaningful because it reduces strain on the arm. Kim Min-hoon explained, "It places the least burden on my arm while allowing me to throw with the same form as my fastball. I believe it is a definitive out-pitch with the highest swing-and-miss rate."

A high school coach who has faced Kim Min-hoon frequently said, "His slider and changeup are excellent, but I think his fastball is his greatest strength. Although I understand his velocity doesn't reach 150 km/h, batters perceive it as much faster. That means the ball finish is heavy." He further praised, "I expect he will be a viable first-round pick."

A scout from professional team B highlighted Kim Min-hoon's outstanding value by citing his "stability." The scout said, "As a pitcher with stable balance, his changeup — which allows him to pitch effectively against any type of batter — is his strength. He is a versatile resource capable of starting or relieving in the first division," and predicted a first-round selection.

Having undergone many changes in a short period, Kim Min-hoon still views professional baseball as a dream, yet he possesses an unshakable sense of responsibility. "I want to be drafted into the pros and become a source of strength for my father, who has worked so hard to support me," he said. "I also hope to be a reliable older brother until my younger brother, who is playing baseball, graduates."

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*This content was translated by AI.