Role model shifts from 'Conor McGregor' to So Hyoung-jun: Youshin High School left-hander, a true KT fan, finally arrives in Suwon after four years, "I passed by Wiz Park every day and watched over 100 games live" [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The baseball stadium he passed on his way to school every day, and the team he had visited more than 100 times since middle school. Cho Yeong-woo (22), who did not receive a professional draft pick upon graduating high school, has finally donned the KT Wiz uniform after four years.

Cho recently met with StarNews at a KT rookie player event held at Suwon KT Wiz Park and shared his thoughts, saying, "I passed by Wiz Park every day while attending middle and high school. It is an immense honor that KT selected me."

Selected in the 8th round of the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft by KT, Cho is a left-handed pitcher who attended Suwon North Middle School, Youshin High School, and Yonsei University. According to the Korea Baseball & Softball Association (KBSA), he stands 184 cm tall and weighs 90 kg.

He was a promising player known since his days at Suwon North Middle School. At Youshin High School, he recorded a 10-2 record with a 1.04 ERA over three years, striking out 87 batters in 95⅓ innings. He led the team to a runner-up finish in the 2021 Phoenix Cup and a championship in the 2022 Blue Dragon Cup. His stable control and game management skills were cited as strengths, but he was not drafted into the pros. Despite his excellent performance, his relatively small stature and fastball velocity that remained in the low 140 km/h range held him back.

Cho reflected, saying, "My velocity did not come through well in high school. So I worked hard to significantly increase my velocity in college, and I think I raised it by about 5 km/h." He added, "Of course, I am not throwing 150 km/h, so I just kept working hard continuously."

The four years spent at Yonsei University were not as simple as they sound. Cho said, "Many people might see it positively, but for me, it was a very difficult four years. There are many temptations in college, right? Many students party, but I did not do that and focused solely on baseball."

That time was not wasted. He recorded a 9-3 record with a 2.84 ERA over his college career, striking out 102 batters in 85⅔ innings, growing into the center of the Yonsei University pitching staff. Having done his best, he was actually calm ahead of the second draft. Cho said, "I thought about it the day before I was drafted and had no regrets. Since I am certain that I have grown compared to my high school days, I decided to accept whatever the result would be."

On the day of the draft, he was still in training for a rivalry game. Even when training ended at 3 p.m., the early rounds were still being conducted, and he could not take his eyes off the screen while his teammates moved on. Cho smiled and said, "When my name was called, I was so happy that I felt shivers run through my entire body."

The reason KT selected Cho was also clear. Lee Chung-moo, head of the KT scouting team, explained about Cho immediately after the draft: "His control is good, and his finishing slider and deception, which makes the ball appear slow to batters, are strengths. He has gained more power than in high school, making the ball itself more effective. His game management is polished enough that he can be utilized in the Futures League immediately, so I view him as a player who can contribute right away."

Cho also cites his slider as his most reliable weapon. Recently, he has added a splitter to his repertoire. He said, "My winning pitch is still the slider. I have newly developed a splitter, but I am not yet at a level where I can say I am completely confident in it." However, he noted, "With the addition of one more pitch type, I feel that managing the game has become a bit easier."

What he is more confident in than velocity is his competitive spirit. Cho stated emphatically, "I am not a pitcher with fast pitches, but I believe I am a player who knows how to battle batters. I think I have a bit of a 'fighting cock' temperament. There will be many good hitters in the pros, but I do not want to avoid them."

The reason he has cited UFC star Conor McGregor (38) as his role model since high school, rather than a baseball player, is in the same vein. He laughed and said, "It hurts my heart that his prime has passed recently, but I think his mindset is the best. I still follow him closely."

Now, in baseball, he can follow So Hyoung-jun (25), a senior from both Youshin High School and KT, up close. This is not simply a story that emerged because they are seniors from the same high school. From the perspective of a fan who has directly watched KT baseball for a long time, So Hyoung-jun held special meaning for him. Cho said, "Senior So Hyoung-jun is amazing. His two-seam fastball and the variety of his pitches are incredible. His pitching style is very much like my own, so I want to ask him many questions and emulate him."

With many seniors and juniors from Youshin High School in the pros, it is expected to help with his adaptation as well. Cho said, "I have watched KT games a lot since middle school. I think I have been to Wiz Park more than 100 times." He expressed gratitude, adding, "Right after being drafted, Lee Sang-woo (2022 KT Second Round, First Pick), who is one year older than me, called immediately and welcomed me by saying, 'Congratulations. Let's play baseball together. You worked hard.'"

Now, all that remains is to look at Wiz Park from the pitcher's mound rather than the stands. He did not set grand goals from the start. Cho boldly declared his ambition: "First, my goal is to make it to the first division. Whether as a one-point relief pitcher or for just ⅓ of an inning, if you give me a chance, I will be grateful and pitch with all my might."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original