'Unranked → Development Player → First Division Debut': Won Seong-jun does it again! Second Futures League Rookie of the Month award this year... LG's 19-year-old left-hander Park Jun-seong also wins for the first time

*This content was translated by AI.

Kiwoom Heroes' Won Seong-jun (26) has claimed his second Futures League Monthly Rookie of the Month award this season after enduring a difficult path from unranked status to development player and finally making his first division debut.

The KBO officially announced on the 23rd that "Won Seong-jun was selected as the hitter's recipient of the September Monthly Rookie of the Month Award for the 2026 Medihill KBO Futures League." In the pitcher category, LG Twins' rookie left-hander Park Jun-seong (19) enjoyed his first award.

Won Seong-jun recorded 15 hits in the Futures League in September, ranking fourth overall, and posted an on-base percentage of 0.453, placing fifth in the Northern League. He also drew 14 walks, demonstrating excellent plate discipline. In a game against LG on the 16th, he went 4-for-5 with three runs scored, effectively fulfilling his leadoff role. His monthly WAR (Wins Above Replacement) was 0.54.

Notably, this is his second award of the season. Won Seong-jun previously received the Monthly Rookie of the Month Award in May after recording 24 hits, 18 RBIs, a batting average of 0.343, an on-base percentage of 0.466, and a slugging percentage of 0.571. Among the hitter award recipients announced through September, only Won Seong-jun and Yeon Sok (수상) LG's Son Yong-jun (June-July) have won the Monthly Rookie of the Month Award twice.

This achievement is even more precious given that his path to professional baseball was not smooth. After attending Gyeonggi High School and Sungkyunkwan University, Won Seong-jun went undrafted in the rookie draft but passed Kiwoom's 2023 signing test, beginning his professional career as a development player.

He later advanced to the first division stage, notably hitting consecutive game-winning home runs on back-to-back days against Hanwha in June, establishing his presence. Even while waiting for another opportunity in the Futures League, he maintained consistent on-base ability and batting production, eventually earning the Monthly Award again in September following his May recognition.

In the pitcher category, LG Park Jun-seong-i (수상) Park Jun-seong was selected. He started all three of his appearances in the Futures League in September, pitching 15 innings with an ERA of 3.60 and recording 13 strikeouts. His 15 innings ranked third in the Northern League, while his 13 strikeouts ranked third overall in the Futures League. His monthly WAR was 0.41.

Park Jun-seong, a graduate of Incheon High School, joined LG as the 18th overall pick in the second round of the 2026 KBO Rookie Draft. He drew attention during his final high school season with a record of 4 wins and 1 loss over 17 games, an ERA of 1.02, and 73 strikeouts in 62 innings. He participated in the first division spring training camp from his rookie year and accumulated experience by alternating between starting and relief roles in the Futures League since June before receiving his first Monthly Rookie of the Month Award.

Won Seong-jun and Park Jun-seong each received a commemorative trophy, a cash prize of 500,000 won, and Medihill cosmetic products worth 500,000 won. The Medihill Futures League Rookie of the Month Award is given monthly to the pitcher and hitter with the highest WAR among players in their first to third professional years who meet the Futures League's required innings or plate appearances.

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*This content was translated by AI.