"I want to meet senior Won Tae-in" Samsung selects 'junior Moon Dong-ju' Kim Min-hoon at No. 7 overall [2027 KBO Draft]

*This content was translated by AI.

Samsung Lions have taken right-handed pitcher Kim Min-hoon (18) from Gwangju Jinheung High School with the seventh overall pick.

On the 21st, Samsung used its first-round, seventh overall selection at the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft held at the World Crystal Ball Room of Lotte Hotel in Seoul to select Kim Min-hoon. Before making the pick, Samsung General Manager Lee Jong-yeol said, "We will select a pitcher who is most needed by our team," and called out Kim Min-hoon's name.

Kim Min-hoon expressed his gratitude, saying, "I am thankful to my family for their dedication behind me that allowed me to reach this moment." He added, "Since I was selected early in the order, I will always strive to be a polite and principled player."

His father also struggled to hide his overwhelming emotions. Kim Min-hoon's father said, "There have been countless hardships and difficulties, but I am grateful, proud, and honored by my son. This is not the end; it is a new beginning. As parents, we will do our best to support him so that he can grow into a hardworking player who sets bigger goals in professional baseball and earns the love of fans."

The player Kim Min-hoon most wants to meet at Samsung has already been decided. He said, "I want to meet senior Won Tae-in at Samsung because he dominates the starting rotation with his exceptional breaking balls and precise control."

Kim Min-hoon, who stands 187 cm tall and weighs 100 kg according to the Korea Baseball & Softball Association (KBSA), is a sturdy right-handed starting pitcher consistently rated as a first-round candidate this year. He throws a fastball reaching up to 148 km/h, complemented by a changeup, curveball, and slider. His strengths include his kick-changeup used against left-handed batters, precise fastball control, and the ability to manage long innings. His high school career statistics show 15 games, 4 wins, 2 losses, an ERA of 1.34, 66⅔ innings pitched, 11 walks, 86 strikeouts, and a WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) of 0.90.

A scout from a KBO team previously told StarNews, "Kim Min-hoon has the stamina to pitch long innings as a starter and possesses excellent game management skills. When starting, he adjusts his pace effectively, and in shorter stints, he can reach speeds in the high 140s km/h. His changeup is particularly attractive."

Gwangju Jinheung High School is the alma mater of national team ace Moon Dong-ju (23, Hanwha Eagles). Kim Min-hoon becomes the first first-round draft pick from Gwangju Jinheung High School in five years since Moon Dong-ju. While Moon Dong-ju gained attention for his overpowering fastball, Kim Min-hoon is a fundamentally opposite type of starter who relies on control, breaking balls, and game management. In a previous interview with StarNews, he also stated his ambition to become a player who brings honor to his school in professional baseball.

The 2027 KBO Rookie Draft will be conducted as an open draft, with selections spanning from the first round through the eleventh round. The order of selection follows the reverse standings of the 2025 season: Kiwoom, Doosan, KIA, Lotte, KT, NC, Samsung, SSG, Hanwha, and LG.

According to KBO regulations, there is only one rookie draft pick trade allowed in 2027. On November 25 last year, NC Dinos traded catcher Park Se-hyeok (36) to Samsung, acquiring the 27th overall pick in the third round as part of the deal. As a result, NC will select 12 players, Samsung will select 10, and the other eight teams will each select 11, totaling 110 picks.

This year's rookie draft eligible pool includes 891 high school graduates, 326 university graduates, 43 early draft applicants, and 20 other players from overseas amateur or professional backgrounds, for a total of 1,280 candidates.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.