[Official] "Son of La Bamba" first-round pick Park Geun-seo signs for 300 million won! Lotte completes contracts with 11 new 2027 draft picks... Full-scale training begins on the 21st

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The Lotte Giants have completed signing contracts with all 11 new players selected in the 2027 draft, who will be responsible for the team's future.

On the 11th, Lotte announced, "We have completed contracts with the 11th new players selected in the 2027 KBO Draft."

Park Geun-seo (18, Seoul Design High School), a left-handed pitcher selected fourth overall in the first round, drew the most attention and signed for a signing bonus of 300 million won. Park was one of the pitchers who raised his evaluation the fastest ahead of this year's draft. A left-hander with an excellent physique, standing at 188 cm tall and weighing 95 kg, he throws fastballs up to 149 km/h. During his senior season, he refined his curveball, changeup, and cutter, earning recognition for his potential as a starting pitcher beyond being a simple fireballer.

Lotte also identified Park as a future left-handed starting pitching asset during the draft, focusing on his command, ability to handle innings, and pitches released from a high arm slot. His game management skills, including the ability to stay composed in high-pressure situations and throw his own pitches, were also highly rated.

At the time of his selection, his father was in the stands directly calling out "La Bamba" and even dancing to celebrate his son's move to Lotte, which became a topic of conversation. Park attended the Rookie Day held at Sajik Baseball Stadium on the 10th, where he greeted home fans for the first time.

Bae Jong-yoon (18, Gwangju First High School), an outfielder selected 14th overall in the second round, signed for 150 million won. Bae is a representative player chosen by Lotte with "future gaps" in mind during this draft. A right-handed throwing, left-handed batting center fielder standing at 185 cm and weighing 82 kg, he possesses a smooth swing trajectory and the ability to handle breaking balls. In addition, he is an all-around asset in hitting, defense, and running, equipped with a wide defensive range, strong arm, and quick legs.

During the draft, Lotte focused on filling positions that would become lacking in the future rather than immediate roster strength. In particular, judging that it takes time to develop center fielder resources, they highly evaluated Bae's growth potential.

Lee Hyun-min (18, Daegu High School), a left-handed pitcher selected in the third round, will receive a signing bonus of 100 million won. The pitcher had already recorded a top speed of 148 km/h in his freshman year of high school, drawing attention as a top prospect in the Gyeongsang region. Although he later experienced elbow discomfort and a slump, he recovered his command this year and rose to become a candidate for the upper rounds of the draft.

He throws fastballs in the mid-140s km/h range along with changeups, sliders, and curveballs, with his changeup released from a low arm slot being a particular strength. Lotte highly evaluates his aggressive pitching approach and ability to use finishing pitches, expecting him to grow into a key asset for the left-handed bullpen in the future.

Won Ji-woo (18, Gangneung High School), a catcher selected in the fourth round, signed for 90 million won. Won was evaluated as a catcher with stable defensive skills on the high school stage, and this year he guarded the plate for the Korea U-18 Asian Championship team, contributing to South Korea's victory.

Lim Seong-jun (19, Yaro High School BC), an infielder selected in the fifth round, and Kim Jin-ho (18, Seongnam High School), a right-handed pitcher selected in the sixth round, will each receive 60 million won. Lim is a center-line infielder equipped with high contact ability, good plate discipline, and quick legs. Kim was evaluated as a future bullpen asset, leveraging his concise pitching form, stable balance, and diverse breaking balls.

Choi Su-wan (18, Deoksu High School), an infielder selected in the seventh round, signed for 50 million won, and Kim Gyu-min (18, Deoksu High School), a right-handed pitcher selected in the eighth round, signed for 40 million won. Choi is evaluated as a center-line infielder with good game sense and defensive skills, while Kim is seen as a bullpen candidate whose strengths are stable control, pitches on the body, and his slider.

Park Seo-jin (22, Gimpo University), a right-handed pitcher selected in the ninth round; Yoon Seung-min (22, Dongguk University), an infielder selected in the 10th round; and Kim Si-hu (18, Baekjae High School), a left-handed pitcher selected in the 11th round, each signed for 0.3 billion won. Park is a college pitcher expected to be utilized in the bullpen relatively quickly due to his strong command and deception. Yoon is a utility asset capable of playing all infield positions, while Kim, a tall left-hander standing at 190 cm, was selected with a focus on growth potential.

In last month's draft, Lotte composed its 11 selections with six pitchers, one catcher, three infielders, and one outfielder. Rather than just filling immediately lacking positions, they placed weight on proactively securing pitching staff, center fielder, and center-line resources that are likely to become scarce in the future. They also deliberated over Choi Ji-min (35, KT), who has recorded 67 career home runs in Major League Baseball, but chose to give growth opportunities to existing young position players.

Now, the professional careers of the selected players will officially begin. The 11 new players attended Rookie Day at Sajik Baseball Stadium on the 10th, greeting home fans for the first time. Starting from the 21st, they will join the Sangdong Baseball Park to undergo training schedules and begin preparations for the 2027 season.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original