“Tears streaming at the draft call” — KT’s 2,600 rpm fastball gem dreams of the first division while holding a glove from “Hwimungo senior” Woo Kyu-min: “I want to hear people say, ‘Who is that?’” [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

A single glove handed over by veteran Woo Kyu-min (41, KT Wiz), who has surpassed 900 career games in the KBO League, became a special gift for rookie Kim Dan (18, Hwimungo High School).

Kim Dan met with StarNews at a recent KT rookie team event held at Suwon KT Wiz Park and said, “Senior Woo Kyu-min gave me the glove through Senior Lee Jung-hoon (32). I went to see him separately to express my sincere gratitude.”

He continued, smiling, “Senior Woo Kyu-min said, ‘I don’t know if you will use this glove or not,’ but I am absolutely going to use it. I want to work hard with that glove until I make it to the first division.”

Kim Dan is a right-handed pitcher who was selected by KT in the 9th round, 85th overall, at the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft held last month. While his pick order suggests a late-round selection, the potential KT sees in him is not small.

Since he has not been converted from position player to pitcher for long, there are still many areas that need refinement, but his raw talent stands out. Kim Dan played as an outfielder through his first year at Hwimungo High School before switching to pitching after much deliberation. Although the period during which he has actively pitched on the mound is not long, TrackMan data consistently measured his fastball spin rate above 2,500 rpm, reaching a maximum of 2,600 rpm.

KT also highly evaluated this aspect. Lee Chung-moo, head of the KT scouting team, said immediately after the draft, “All data metrics are quite high. They are above the professional average,” adding, “If he is well-refined as a pitcher, he is a player with many appealing qualities.”

The moment of his selection was that special for Kim Dan. He recalled, “I was watching the draft at home with my mother and father. Before they called my name, they paused and briefly set down the microphone. Then, I faintly heard the word ‘Kim Dan.’ At first, I thought I had misheard. But then the announcement came: ‘We will select Kim Dan, pitcher from Hwimungo High School,’ and I cried extremely hard.”

Because the time since his conversion to pitching was short, he was not without anxiety. The sample size he had shown was smaller than that of other pitchers. However, he had never regretted his choice. Kim Dan said, “There is a little regret, but I have no remorse about the decision I made. Even after switching to pitching, I did my best in every moment,” adding, “By doing so day by day, when the draft came, I felt that I had done everything I could, whether I got picked or not. So I watched with a fun and excited mindset.”

In the professional ranks as well, his most trusted weapon is still the fastball. Kim Dan said, “I believe my fastball spin and power are my biggest weapons,” expressing confidence by adding, “I want to become a pitcher who gives people the impression of ‘Who is that?’”

He also found his role model within KT: national team closer Park Young-hyun (23). Kim Dan said, “I watched Senior Park Young-hyun a lot even in high school. Since he competes with fastballs like I do, I tried to observe and learn from that aspect,” adding, “I want to become a pitcher who can dominate batters on the mound.”

Woo Kyu-min, his direct senior at Hwimungo High School, is also indispensable. Kim Dan emphasized, “I also want to look up to Senior Woo Kyu-min a lot.” The two have different styles but share commonalities. Park Young-hyun is KT’s closer who engages in head-on battles with powerful fastballs, while Woo Kyu-min is a veteran who has survived in the KBO League for a long time by leveraging his strengths, becoming the first right-handed pitcher to surpass 900 appearances. For Kim Dan, who has just taken his first step into professional baseball, they are seniors from whom he can learn much in different ways.

Kim Dan judged that the forkball did not suit him and has temporarily set it aside, currently refining his curveball, slider, changeup, and cutter. Rather than trying to possess many things at once, he plans to build a pitching repertoire suited for the professional stage centered on his biggest strength, the fastball.

He also had high expectations for KT as seen from the outside. Kim Dan said, “I thought KT was not just a team that stands out, but one with a firm atmosphere and color unique to them. I heard that they have many good pitchers and that Manager Lee Kang-cheol (60) is good at developing pitchers,” declaring his ambitious goal by adding, “I was truly grateful to be selected by KT and want to learn diligently.”

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original