"My first signature as a pro goes to my parents": KT's special tradition continues for the ninth year... This year, 'wishing balls' were added

*This content was translated by AI.

Who receives the first signature left by a player after turning pro? For the rookies of KT Wiz, the youngest club in the KBO League, the answer is already set: their parents, who have supported and nurtured their son's dreams from the closest side for the longest time.

On the 21st, after concluding the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft held at the World Crystal Ball Room of Seoul Lotte Hotel, KT organized a special event for the rookie players and their families once again this year.

Since the 2018 Rookie Draft, this has been a nine-year tradition where players selected in the draft leave their "first signature as a professional player" on a baseball bearing the club's logo to gift it to their parents.

This is more than just a souvenir. The event aims to express gratitude to the parents who have provided extensive emotional and financial support over the longest period until the players reached today, while also helping the players remember the excitement and original intentions they felt when first joining the professional league for a long time.

This year, additional meaning was added. KT specially manufactured cases in the form of commemorative plaques to hold the signed balls. The players wrote their thoughts on being drafted and messages they wanted to convey to their parents directly, then read them aloud at the venue.

The KT club explained the significance of the event, stating, "We believe that the first fans who supported the player after turning pro, and those who will continue to support with the greatest heart in the future, are their parents."

Special wording was also included on the uniforms. Instead of names, "ROOKIE" was engraved on the KT uniforms delivered to the new players. This signifies not forgetting the joy and excitement of the moment they were first drafted into the professional league, while simultaneously encouraging them to take on the responsibility of being a professional player from now on.

This year, a new event was added ahead of Chuseok: the "lucky pouch wishing ball." Rookie players directly wrote their most desired goals after joining the professional league onto baseballs. The completed wishing balls were taken by the players themselves to be kept as memories of the first day of being drafted. KT also captured photos of the players writing their wishes and holding the completed balls to celebrate their new beginnings.

A total of 11 rookies will wear the KT uniforms this year. Starting with Lee Seung-won (18, Yushin High), a left-handed pitcher selected in the first round from Suwon, KT chose Choi Ji-man (35, Ulsan Whales) in the second round, Kim Ji-yul (18, Chungam High School) in the third round, Choi Min-sang (18, Masan Yongma High) in the fourth round, Kim Dong-young (18, Gongju High) in the fifth round, Kim Jimin (18, Seongnam High) in the sixth round, Choi Min-young (18, Yatab High) in the seventh round, Jo Young-woo (22, Yonsei University) in the eighth round, Kim Dan (18, Hwimoon High) in the ninth round, Ahn Woo-seok (18, Gyeongnam High) in the tenth round, and Lee Ji-hyo (18, Jangam High) in the eleventh round.

KT President Na Do-hyun commented, "We were generally satisfied as we were able to draft the players we had reviewed in advance as expected." Regarding Lee Seung-won, who was selected fifth overall, he stated, "He is a left-handed pitcher with high potential value, possessing excellent physical conditions of 190cm and stable control. We expect him to grow into a left-handed pitcher who will lead the team's starting rotation in the future."

Choi Ji-man, selected in the second round, was viewed as an immediate force. President Na said, "He possesses rich experience and power-hitting ability. He is expected to showcase his strengths at the Suwon KT Wiz Park, which is hitter-friendly, and contribute to strengthening the team's offense starting from next season."

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*This content was translated by AI.