'120 Innings, 157 Strikeouts': Despite Concerns Over Overuse and Two Consecutive National Tournament Titles, KT's Third-Round Pick Kim Ji-yul Exudes Confidence: "I Can Compete Against Anyone"

*This content was translated by AI.

Kim Ji-yul (18, KT Wiz), a high school ace who threw 120 innings and recorded 157 strikeouts, has boldly issued his challenge to the professional stage.

On the 21st, at the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft held at the World Crystal Ball Room of Seoul Lotte Hotel, KT selected Chungam High School right-handed pitcher Kim Ji-yul with the 25th overall pick in the third round.

Shortly after the draft, Kim Ji-yul met with StarNews and said with a bright smile, "I am really happy to be drafted by KT. I want to go to the professional league quickly and play baseball with my seniors." Regarding the moment his name was called, he calmly remarked, "It seems like it was exactly the pick number I had expected."

However, when discussing his own competitiveness, his confidence was absolute. Kim Ji-yul introduced himself by saying, "I believe I am a pitcher who can compete against any batter immediately. My strengths are my ability to pitch many innings and my high strikeout rate and control."

There is ample evidence for this. According to the Korea Baseball & Softball Association (KBSA), Kim Ji-yul stands 186 cm tall and weighs 90 kg, and he was virtually solely responsible for Chungam High School's mound this year. In 26 games, he posted a record of 14 wins and 2 losses with an ERA of 1.28, pitching a full 120 innings while allowing only 38 walks and 7 hit-by-pitches, recording 157 strikeouts. His WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) was 0.89.

Kim Ji-yul was at the center as Chungam High School consecutively won both the Golden Saja Cup and the Phoenix Cup. Although he could not pitch in the finals of the Golden Saja Cup due to pitch count restrictions, he received an award, and in the Phoenix Cup semifinals against Busan High School, he threw 105 pitches over 5⅔ innings allowing only two earned runs, leading his team to the finals. Kim Ji-yul, who finished his final high school season with 120 innings, was the ace who led Chungam High School to a double crown in national tournaments.

He is not the type of pitcher who simply overwhelms batters with velocity alone. A scout for a KBO team previously told StarNews, "Kim Ji-yul relies on his fastball and slider as his two primary pitches, but his tunneling and vertical movement on his fastball are excellent. His strength lies in his ability to throw his own pitches effectively in any situation, and he also possesses outstanding stamina."

The club's evaluation is similar. Lee Chung-moo, head of the KT scouting team, stated, "Among right-handed pitchers, I consider Kim Ji-yul's slider to be top-tier. He can control his slider however he wants." He added, "He recorded 157 strikeouts again this year. Whether in high school or college, players who record many strikeouts ultimately possess a definitive out-pitch."

His current velocity is not yet considered fully developed. Kim Ji-yul reaches speeds of up to 145–146 km/h when pitching short stints. When taking on the role of a starting pitcher for long innings, he is the type who adjusts his pace himself. This team manager noted, "If he were to pitch one inning in the bullpen, he could easily reach speeds in the mid-140s km/h range." He expressed expectations that "there is still room for him to gain more strength, and if he trains systematically, his velocity can certainly increase."

There are also concerns regarding his high pitch count of 120 innings. However, KT has not identified significant risks in Kim Ji-yul's pitching mechanics themselves. The team manager explained, "Kim Ji-yul has not suffered from any particular injuries so far. His pitching mechanism itself is smooth and does not place undue strain on his body. We generally view the risk of major injury as low, and he also possesses excellent control."

The club also plans to proceed without rushing after his signing. KT General Manager Na Do-hyun revealed, "We internally evaluated Kim Ji-yul as a second-round caliber resource." He further stated, "Upon signing, we plan to implement a program that will customize his innings and pitch counts through medical checks to gradually increase them according to the player's condition."

KT was able to exercise its draft rights satisfactorily up to the third round for Kim Ji-yul even after selecting Choi Jee-man (35) in the second round. There is also a reliable senior ahead of him as he faces an unfamiliar professional life. Third baseman Kim Geon-hwi (19), who graduated from Chungam High School last year and joined KT with the 26th overall pick in the third round of the 2026 Rookie Draft, is one such senior. Kim Ji-yul smiled, saying, "My senior (Kim) Geon-hwi gave me many encouraging words recently about good results coming, but I didn't expect to meet him here at KT."

He had already surpassed 100 innings before the Phoenix Cup, drawing concerned glances regarding overuse. Nevertheless, the ace who proudly brought Chungam High School its first green phoenix in 19 years remained composed. Now, he intends to showcase his strengths immediately on the professional stage. When asked how he would like to introduce himself as a player, Kim Ji-yul declared with determination, "I am a pitcher who can compete right away. I will show you my hardworking side."

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*This content was translated by AI.