'MLB $2 billion Offer' Rejected Power Hitting Third Baseman, 'Kim Dong-ju to Heo Kyung-min,' Now Kim Ji-woo... "Power is my strength; I will master hitting, fielding, and base running"

*This content was translated by AI.

A strong candidate has emerged for the Doosan Bears third base position, which had lacked a definitive owner since Heo Kyung-min (36·KT) departed. Kim Ji-woo (18), selected second overall by Doosan, vowed to become an elite third baseman combining Kim Dong-ju's (50) power with Heo Kyung-min's defensive skills.

Kim Ji-woo was selected second overall by Doosan at the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft held on the 21st in the World Crystal Ball Room of the Seoul Lotte Hotel.

Doosan General Manager Kim Tae-yong said, "We have selected a position player for three consecutive years," as he announced the selection of Kim Ji-woo. Only three teams chose a position player in the first round, and Doosan was the first to do so. Despite having a high pick, this indicates that Doosan felt compelled to secure Kim Ji-woo even at the cost of passing on talented pitchers.

Kim Ji-woo received offers from multiple Major League Baseball (MLB) teams totaling $1.5 million (approximately 2.062 billion won) but declined them. His resolve to begin his professional career in the KBO League was firm.

Kim Ji-woo was among the highest-rated position players in this year's rookie draft, excelling in both batting and pitching, though his talent as a position player was superior and he felt a stronger attachment to it. As a batter this year, he played 14 games with a .422 batting average (19 hits in 45 at-bats), two home runs, 19 RBIs, 12 runs scored, and two stolen bases, posting a .444 on-base percentage, a .689 slugging percentage, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 1.133. As a pitcher, he recorded two wins, one loss, a 4.91 ERA, 15 strikeouts over 11⅓ innings in eight games.

Doosan stated, "As we had prepared and expected, we selected future Doosan players through the 11th round, making this a satisfying draft," explaining that they bolstered their position player corps in the upper rounds and added pitchers for the next generation in subsequent rounds.

They further added, "Selecting a position player in the first round for three consecutive years was possible due to our confidence in Kim Ji-woo," and expressed hope that he would grow into a power hitter with over 30 home runs and become the face of the new Jamsil Baseball Stadium.

This is a power-hitting prospect with high expectations. Kim Ji-woo said, "I have always wanted to play as a position player and feel more confident in that role. Since I have always dreamed of being a position player, I was very grateful when they called me that way." He continued, "Even though the offer from the U.S. was truly excellent, I felt it was right to play on the stage where I had felt the excitement of the KBO League and dreamed since childhood. It feels like I have played baseball for over 10 years to compete in such a ballpark."

A power-hitting third baseman had been a forgotten presence at Doosan. After Kim Dong-ju, who played 16 seasons exclusively with Doosan, hit 273 home runs and recorded a career .309 batting average, Heo Kyung-min emerged as the main force during his prime, though he was far from being a power hitter. With him now leaving the team, Doosan's third base position has become a concern.

Kim Ji-woo, who possesses solid power-hitting ability and a strong arm, is expected to hold down Doosan's third base spot for a long time following Kim Dong-ju and Heo Kyung-min. Kim Ji-woo stated, "Power is my strength, but I believe it shines brighter when combined with all-around skills in hitting, fielding, and base running. I am training to maximize my power while also developing other strengths so that I can become a versatile player who excels in various areas." He added, "I am most confident as a third baseman, and if given the opportunity, I will work hard at any position."

Kim Ji-woo, who wants to play as much as possible with the first team next season, lowered his stance regarding Ha Hyun-seung (Busan High School), who was selected first overall by Kiwoom: "I need to develop further. Hyun-seung showed great performance in this tournament. I think competition will arise if I show more next year." However, he did not hide his desire to face Kwak Bin and An Woo-jin of Kiwoom, saying, "Originally, I wanted to compete against Kwak Bin, but now we are teammates. I look forward to meeting senior An Woo-jin and (Ha) Hyun-seung of Kiwoom. I want to get revenge on Hyun-seung."

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*This content was translated by AI.