'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.View Original

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 in Songpa-gu, Seoul. Although he began 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. This is because he underwent surgery on the medial collateral ligament (MCL) of his right elbow in June 2024 and only returned to the mound after mid-last year.

However, Kim Min-hoon, who completed rehabilitation steadily, grew at a frightening pace. His elbow pain completely disappeared, and every game since then has drawn admiration. With a sturdy build of 187 cm in height and 100 kg in weight, his fastball may not yet easily exceed the top speed of 150 km/h, but he throws with enough body weight to deliver heavy ball ends. He has dominated high school baseball with a large-break slider and now his signature kick changeup.

During his second year, he appeared in only four games and showed potential with an ERA of 1.80 over 5⅓ innings. This year, however, he blossomed.

He pitched a total of 66⅔ innings in 15 games, recording 4 wins, 2 losses, and 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 held in August, he threw 91 pitches over seven innings, allowing eight strikeouts and four runs (two earned). Although Kim Min-hoon was pulled from the game and his team went on to lose 1-9 to Gwangju Dongseong High School after conceding five more runs, it was a game that confirmed his true value.

Later, at the Asian Youth Championship where he wore 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 second inning of the first Super Round match against Japan, with the team trailing 0-2 and one out with bases loaded, Kim Min-hoon came in as a fireman. He struck out two consecutive batters — the opposing number 2 and 3 hitters — with his signature changeup to extinguish the threat. He finished the third and fourth innings without allowing any runs 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 in that one-out, bases-loaded situation where we were down by two runs was the most crucial. If the score gap had widened further there, it would have been a difficult game. Thanks to Min-hoon holding them off, our offense also started firing, and I think that led to the win." 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 many times as a team. If we get intimidated, the outcome gets worse, so I think staying confident and throwing aggressively worked well. Not avoiding the situation and attacking directly was effective, and having a strong changeup gave me confidence to throw with trust."

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 definitive first-round candidate. However, he continues to show a steep growth trajectory, and the Asian Youth Championship served as a clear showcase for that.

What makes Kim Min-hoon stand out most is his stable control and bold heart. 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'm confident in taking an aggressive approach through command and location rather than giving up walks." He then proved this ability on the tense international stage.

The value of his pitch repertoire is also significant. Rather than obsessing over the number 150 km/h, Kim Min-hoon focused more on how to generate power. Even during his second year, his fastball already achieved an RPM in the 2500th range. Opposing batters consistently evaluated him by saying, "The ball feels heavy; it looks much faster than its actual speed."

Kim Min-hoon stated, "I'm not at a stage where I need to force changes to my form or be greedy for velocity." He added, "There is still a lot of technical room for improvement compared to my physical attributes. Once I join the pros and learn from good 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 has a slider with significant drop, earning him evaluations like "great forkball." His changeup, which was added last among his pitches, settled into a kick changeup after several adjustments and became his most terrifying weapon. For someone who underwent elbow surgery, this is also meaningful as it reduces strain on the arm. Kim Min-hoon explained, "It puts the least burden on my arm while allowing me to throw with the same form as my fastball. I believe it's 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 biggest strength. I understand his velocity doesn't reach 150 km/h, but batters perceive it as much faster. That means the ball ends feel 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 is a strength because it allows him to pitch effectively against all types of batters. He is a versatile resource who can serve as both a starter and reliever in the first division," adding that he expects Kim Min-hoon to be selected in the first round.

Kim Min-hoon, who has undergone many changes in a short time, still views his professional career as a dream, yet he possesses an unwavering sense of responsibility stronger than anyone else's. "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. He also added, "I want 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.View Original