"Kim Kwang-hyun senior is coming in person" — Even a 1st-round left-handed pitcher worth 250 million won moved to tears! SSG Landers' rookie signing ceremony held at Rander's Field

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The rookie players who will take charge of the future of the SSG Landers took their first steps into professional baseball. In particular, ace Koo Dan-eul (CEO) Kim Kwang-hyun (38) and captain Oh Tae-gon (40) personally attended the ceremony to congratulate the juniors on their new beginning.

SSG announced on the 24th that it held an official rookie welcome event, "The First Landing," at Incheon SSG Landers Field to greet its 2027 rookie players.

"The First Landing" is a club-exclusive welcome ceremony commemorating the first steps of rookies who have donned the SSG uniform. This year, unlike in previous years, the event was held not at the Kanghwa SSG Futures Field, but at the 1st division home stadium, Incheon SSG Landers Field.

The purpose is to instill the concrete goal of entering the 1st division in the rookie players, while also directly introducing the facilities of the ballpark where their children will play to the parents who have supported them for a long time.

The event was attended by 18 rookie players and their families, along with Kim Jae-hyun (51), SSG general manager, and club officials. The most eye-catching moment was the surprise visit from Kim Kwang-hyun and Oh Tae-gon.

Kim Kwang-hyun, a left-handed ace representing the KBO League and a franchise star of SSG, personally visited the juniors who had just entered professional baseball to encourage them.

Captain Oh Tae-gon served as a one-day instructor for the morning mentoring session. He shared his experience as a senior player, emphasizing the mindset required of a professional athlete and the One-Team spirit of working together with teammates.

It was a special time for the rookie players. In particular, for Lee Yun-seong (18, Masan High School), a left-handed pitcher selected in the 1st round by SSG this year, the meeting with Kim Kwang-hyun, who is also a left-handed pitcher, held special significance.

Lee Yun-seong was selected by SSG with the 8th overall pick in the 1st round of the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft held last September. A promising prospect capable of throwing fastballs at a top speed of 152 km/h, he signed a contract with a signing bonus of 250 million won.

At the time, Lee Yun-seong expressed his ambition to "become Korea's best left-handed pitcher" and vowed to succeed on the professional stage. SSG also expects Lee Yun-seong to be a key pitching resource leading the era of the Cheongna Dome, scheduled to open in 2028.

On this day as well, after the signing ceremony, Lee Yun-seong shared his impressions: "After holding the signing ceremony at Incheon SSG Landers Field, I truly feel like I have become a real SSG player. It was especially meaningful and joyful that seniors Kim Kwang-hyun and Oh Tae-gon came in person to congratulate me." He added, "Going forward, I will do my best to be a player who takes pride in being part of the club and contributes to the team."

In this year's rookie draft, SSG selected a total of 11 players, including Lee Yun-seong, Kwon Do-hyun (pitcher, Busan Industrial High School) in the 2nd round, and Yong Seok-min (pitcher, Kyungdong High School) in the 3rd round. Kwon Do-hyun signed for a signing bonus of 150 million won, and Yong Seok-min for 100 million won, completing contracts with all 11 selected players.

In addition, seven developmental players were recruited, bringing the total number of rookie players preparing for the new season to 18. The signing ceremony proceeded in the order of a morning orientation, the main event, lunch, a tour of 1st division facilities, and family photo sessions. The club also set up a dedicated coffee cart for families on the grounds.

Gifts were also prepared for the rookie players and their families. They received a "Shinsegae Full Package Gift" consisting of a Chosun Hotel kimchi subscription, a Starbucks MD set, an E-Mart Peacock set, and a Shinsegae Food Boenmi bakery set. SSG explained that it structured the program so that rookie players could feel a sense of belonging to the club from the early stages of their tenure, and families could share in the joy of entering professional baseball.

After the signing ceremony, the rookie players will join the Kanghwa SSG Futures Field to participate in the club's future strategic development project. They are scheduled to receive phased training starting with intensive physical conditioning for basic fitness improvement, followed by data and team strength analysis, mental management, and basic competency education.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original