"I will become my older brother's pride." KT first-round pick Lee Seung-won's special promise... The boy who once looked up to Won Tae-in now dreams of becoming a "Yusin High School senior" So Hyoung-jun

*This content was translated by AI.

"I want to play in the first division for a long time and become my older brother's pride. I will also buy him a car."

The person KT Wiz first-round rookie Lee Seung-won (18, Yusin High School) thought of first upon joining the professional ranks was his older brother, who had guided him onto the path of baseball.

Lee attended KT's "Rookie Day" held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 4th, officially greeting home fans for the first time alongside 10 other 2027 rookie players.

KT selected Lee with the fifth overall pick in the first round of the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft held on the 21st of last month. Although he underwent surgery on his left elbow's ulnar collateral ligament (MCL) last year and pitched only five and two-thirds innings across six games during his senior season, KT highly evaluated his physical attributes at 190 cm in height, the rarity of being a left-handed pitcher, as well as his stable control and game management skills. KT General Manager Na Do-hyun showed such confidence that he said immediately after the selection, "In the first round, I was only waiting for Lee Seung-won."

His daily life began to change little by little after being drafted. Since he attends school in Suwon, there are many KT fans around him. Lee said, "There are many friends at school who are KT fans. They come during class or break time and ask me for autographs," adding with a smile, "It seems like more people around me recognize me now."

On the 4th, he felt that change even more acutely. He had previously visited Suwon KT Wiz Park as a spectator three times, but this was his first time stepping onto the ground directly as a KT player. Lee said, "It felt so good to feel the presence of the fans. I was both excited and nervous," adding with a smile, "I was incredibly nervous just by stepping onto the baseball field. I think it will be really fun when I stand on the pitcher's mound later."

The time spent with his family made the occasion even more meaningful. On this day, KT invited 11 rookies and their families, holding a ceremonial first pitch to add significance to the Rookie Day. Lee said, "Since it was my first ceremonial first pitch, it felt meaningful and I think it will remain in my memory forever," adding, "I think this might be one of the last opportunities for me to come to the baseball park with my parents and watch a game together. I am so grateful and happy that I can cherish these times well."

For him, family was also the starting point of his baseball life. In particular, he naturally picked up a glove following his older brother, who had started playing baseball earlier. While his brother was delighted by the news of his professional draft selection, he first offered realistic advice. Lee said, "My brother kept saying, 'I can't quite believe it. You worked hard,'" but added, "He said I would have to work even harder from now on. He told me a lot that my parents are no longer pushing me from behind, so I have to do it alone, be careful with every action, and take responsibility for what I do."

Therefore, when asked what he wanted to say to his brother, his answer was clear. Lee emphasized, "I am truly grateful that you allowed me to walk this path of baseball. My goal is to succeed a little more, play in the first division for a long time, and become my older brother's pride."

Choi Ji-min (35), a second-round rookie who was listening nearby, jokingly chimed in, "Tell them quickly that you're buying a car," to which Lee immediately promised, "I will buy you a car." Choi then said again, "Please write it down. Put it in the title," turning the scene into a sea of laughter.

Perhaps his connection to baseball began from the day he was born. August 23, 2008, the day Lee was born, was the day the Korean national baseball team defeated Cuba in the Beijing Olympics final to win a gold medal with a perfect 9-0 record. Lee, who learned of this fact later, joked, "I wasn't thinking about it at all, but when I came to high school and saw it by chance, that day was exactly the day they won the gold medal," adding, "The first thing I thought then was, 'I am a son of baseball.'"

As he continued playing baseball, the pitcher he once looked up to was Won Tae-in (26, Samsung Lions). Influenced by his parents from Daegu, he was exposed to Samsung games in his childhood and took Won Tae-in, who excels in game management and pitch sequencing, as his role model.

However, now that he wears the KT uniform, a new senior player catches his eye. It is So Hyoung-jun (25), a senior from the same Yusin High School. Lee said, "When I think of a KT starting pitcher, Senior So Hyoung-jun comes to mind first," adding, "I believe a starting pitcher needs to have a feeling that is unshakable and comfortable. I think he is the player who best fits those conditions, so I want to emulate him."

KT has more Yusin High School seniors familiar to Lee besides So Hyoung-jun. Lee also received congratulatory messages from Lee Kang-min (19) and Oh Seo-jin (20), who is currently serving in the military. He said, "Both seniors contacted me saying they were very happy for me and wanted to play a game together soon," adding, "Since there are many seniors, I think adapting will be a bit easier than at other teams. I feel like it will be fine as long as I do what I need to do."

However, he does not intend to recklessly chase results from his first year in the pros. There is a separate priority for Lee right now: "Health." The word that followed him until his final high school season was elbow. Although he returned after surgery and rehabilitation, people's gazes always turned to the state of his arm.

Lee candidly shared, "After undergoing surgery in high school, I felt held back even until the end of my senior season," adding, "People would always look at me and say, 'Is your arm okay now?' or 'It looks like you're a little in pain.' Depending on how you listen to it, it was motivation, but depending on how you listen to it, it was also stress."

He continued, "In the pros, even if not immediately, I want to build a truly solid and strong body by the second half of next year so that I can play baseball without pain and give my best effort," emphasizing.

Born on the day of the Beijing Olympics gold medal, he started playing baseball following his older brother and nurtured his dream as a pitcher while looking up to Won Tae-in. During high school, he also faced the trial of elbow surgery. Now, chosen by KT, he begins his professional career in Suwon, his home region.

At that starting point, the first promise he made was not about winning Rookie of the Year or a specific number of wins. It was to survive in the first division for a long time with a healthy body and become the pride of the older brother who led him onto the path of baseball. And eventually, to truly gift the "one car" he had promised.

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*This content was translated by AI.