"I will give the highest signing bonus for a rookie to my parents": Ha Hyun-seung wins Futures Star Award for second consecutive year... Will consult with Kiwoom Heroes on 'pitching and batting dual role' [2026 Futures Star Awards]

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Ha Hyun-seung (18, Kiwoom Heroes), who plays both pitcher and batter at Busan High School, was honored with the Futures Star Award this year, following his Star Award last year. Having become the recipient of the highest signing bonus in KBO rookie history, he expressed gratitude to his parents and vowed to succeed in professional baseball as well.

Ha Hyun-seung received the Star Grand Prize at the "2026 Futures Star Awards (hosted and organized by StarNews, sponsored by the Korea Sports & Olympic Committee, National Sports Promotion Foundation, Korea Baseball & Softball Federation, Korea Basketball Association, Korea Volleyball Association, and Korea Sports Leisure Co., Ltd.)" ceremony held on the 26th at the press conference room on the 19th floor of the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul.

Approximately 100 people attended the ceremony, including recipients, officials from sports associations, federations, and teams by sport, and members of the selection committee. Ha Hyun-seung had expressed his ambition to receive the Star Grand Prize the following year when he received the Star Award last year, and he kept that promise within a year. The recipient of the Star Grand Prize was awarded a prize money of 3 million won.

In his acceptance speech, Ha Hyeon-seung-eun (수상) stated, "I am truly grateful to those who helped me receive such a meaningful and wonderful award. I am also very thankful to the Baseball Federation officials who always support our high school baseball greatly. I thank Coach Park Gye-won of Busan High School as well. Last year, at this venue, I said I would receive the Grand Prize next year, so it feels good to actually receive it. I will continue to work hard from now on."

This year, Ha Hyun-seung displayed a phenomenal performance in high school baseball, alternating between pitching and batting. On the pitcher's mound, he appeared in 14 games, recording an overwhelming record of 4 wins, no losses, and an ERA of 0.39. Over a total of 45⅔ innings pitched, he allowed only 11 walks while striking out a whopping 77 batters. At the plate, he played in 24 games, marking a batting average of 0.383 (31 hits in 81 at-bats), 3 home runs, 21 RBIs, and 14 walks, with an OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 1.088, swinging the bat fiercely.

The selection committee highly evaluated Ha Hyun-seung as an "immediate impact player who plays both pitcher and batter, possessing excellent physical conditions and good athletic ability." They noted, "His greatest strength is his powerful command led by fastballs exceeding 150 km/h. He has a good feel for pitching, with stable control of breaking balls, and possesses the ability to sufficiently handle innings as a starting pitcher based on high command and the completion level of his breaking pitches." Ha Hyun-seung boasts a fastball reaching up to 153 km/h and excellent slider movement, while also consistently throwing changeups.

The committee did not overlook his potential as a batter either. They praised him by stating, "He boasts strong contact production ability based on excellent punching power and fast bat speed. His ability to handle breaking balls is also outstanding, with few whiffs," adding, "He has already proven his skills beyond the high school level, including pitching a perfect game at the U-18 Asia Youth Championship."

Based on such performances, Ha Hyun-seung was selected by Kiwoom Heroes with the first overall pick in the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft held last September. Subsequently, he signed a contract with Kiwoom for the highest signing bonus in KBO rookie history, receiving high expectations for his performance on the professional stage as well.

After the ceremony ended, Ha Hyun-seung met with reporters and stated regarding the top signing bonus, "I am very grateful to Kiwoom Heroes for allowing me to break the record for the highest signing bonus for a rookie player. Since I received the highest rookie signing bonus, I think I need to prepare well."

In particular, when asked where he plans to use the signing bonus, he replied, "I don't have any other thoughts yet. I plan to give it to my parents."

There were also changes after being selected with the first overall pick. Ha Hyun-seung said, "There wasn't anything particularly different," but added, "Now that I am joining a professional team and my team has been decided, I have gained a lot of motivation to prepare well before joining. It seems like I have just been continuing to exercise."

He has not yet joined Kiwoom's official fall training camp. Ha Hyun-seung explained, "It was a short period, but I have been building my body continuously for about a month. Since I will need to build my body again when I go to the professional team, I am preparing so that I can handle the training schedule immediately without getting injured when I join."

Whether he will play both pitcher and batter on the professional stage, which is drawing attention, has not yet been decided. Ha Hyun-seung said, "First, whether I do one of pitching or batting, or both, I plan to prepare accordingly once it is decided after consulting with Kiwoom," adding, "I want to improve my skills by frequently approaching and asking senior players according to the designated position."

He also expressed satisfaction with his final high school season. He reflected, saying, "As a batter, my performance improved compared to last year, and I think I grew a lot as a pitcher too, so it was a satisfying season in both aspects," adding, "Among those, going to an international tournament as a pitcher and achieving good results seems to have been the most joyful growth for me."

<2026 Futures Star Awards> Ceremony

■ Date: October 26, 2026 (Mon) at 3 p.m.

■ Location: Press Conference Room, 19th Floor, Korea Press Center (124 Sejong University-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul)

■ Recipients and Awards (Total 10 people)

◇ Baseball

Ha Hyun-seung (18, Kiwoom Heroes 1st round pick), 3rd year at Busan High School: Prize money 3 million won

Lee Ho-min (18, KIA Tigers 1st round pick), 3rd year at Gyeongnam High School: Prize money 1 million won and gift certificate worth 1 million won

◇ Soccer

An Ju-wan (17, Seoul E-Land FC), 2nd year at Sinpyeong High School: Prize money 1 million won and gift certificate worth 1 million won

Jeong Hyun-woong (18, FC Seoul), 3rd year at Osan High School: Prize money 1 million won and gift certificate worth 1 million won

◇ Basketball

Yoon Ji-won (18), 3rd year at Gyeongbok High School: Prize money 3 million won

Yoon Ji-hoon (18), 3rd year at Gyeongbok High School: Prize money 1 million won and gift certificate worth 1 million won

◇ Volleyball

Son So-yeon (16), 1st year at Sunmyeong Girls' High School: Prize money 1 million won and gift certificate worth 1 million won

◇ Golf

Yang Yun-seo (18), 3rd year at Incheon Girls' High School Affiliated Broadcasting & Open High School: Prize money 1 million won and gift certificate worth 1 million won

◇ Skateboarding

Kang Jun-i (18), 3rd year at Yeongdeungpo High School: Prize money 1 million won and gift certificate worth 1 million won

◇ Gymnastics

Hwang Seo-hyeon (18), 3rd year at Incheon Sports High School: Prize money 1 million won and gift certificate worth 1 million won

■ Selection Committee Members

Former National Team Manager Kim In-sik (Seon Jeong-wi (Director)), Cha Myeong-ju, Gi Ryeok-hyang-sang (Chairman) of the Korea Baseball & Softball Association (KBSA), Jung Min-hyuk, Head of Scout Team at Hanwha Eagles, Kwon Do-young, Section Chief of Scout Team at Kiwoom Heroes

Han Jun-hee, Commentator for Coupang Play, Son Seung-jun, Full-time Instructor for the Korea Football Association, Kwon Oh-gyu, Technical Director for Bucheon FC, Jeong Jae-yoon, Scout for Jeonbuk Hyundai

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original