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Shin Dong-bin (71), chairman of Lotte Group and owner of the Lotte Giants, delivered special congratulatory messages and gifts to all 11 rookie players taking their first steps on the professional stage. Eleven veteran players, including team captain Jeon Jun-woo (40), also attended to celebrate the newcomers' new beginning.
Lotte announced on the 28th that it held a "2027 Rookie Family Day" at Lotte Hotel World in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on the 26th, inviting the players selected in the 2027 draft and their families.
The Rookie Family Day, first launched in 2022, is an event organized by Lotte Holdings and the Lotte Giants to support rookie players' professional careers and enhance their sense of belonging to the team. This year marks its fifth edition.
A highlight of this event was the congratulatory message from owner Shin Dong-bin. Owner Shin conveyed his intention to provide support so that the rookie players, who are embarking on a new challenge in Lotte uniforms, can fully realize their potential. Gifts for the players were also prepared along with the message.
Eleven veteran players attended the event, including veteran Jeon Jun-woo, who represents the team. A session was arranged for the rookies to meet and talk directly with their seniors before beginning their professional careers.
The rookie players and their families participated in a welcome ceremony and the delivery of the owner's congratulatory message, starting with a visit to the Lotte Group founder's memorial hall. They then spent time visiting Lotte World Adventure and the Seoul Sky observation deck.
Lotte selected a total of 11 players in the 2027 KBO rookie draft held on September 21, including six pitchers, one catcher, three infielders, and one outfielder. Promising talents who will be responsible for the future of the pitching staff and position players took their first step as members of the organization through this event.
The player selected with the highest pick was left-handed pitcher Park Geun-seo (18), a graduate of Seoul Design High School. Lotte used its fourth overall pick in the first round on Park Geun-seo.
Standing 188 cm tall and weighing 95 kg, Park Geun-seo is a promising left-handed pitcher capable of throwing fastballs at a top speed of 149 km/h. Although he attracted interest from Major League Baseball teams in the United States, he chose to enter the domestic professional league and signed a contract with Lotte for a signing bonus of 300 million won.
During the recent rookie draft, Park Geun-seo also drew attention for his father's "La Bamba" cheer. Park Geun-seo greeted fans at Sajik Baseball Stadium and stated his goal of becoming a player who represents Lotte.
In the second round, Lotte selected outfielder Bae Jong-yoon (18) from Gwangju Il High School, and in the third round, left-handed pitcher Lee Hyun-min (18) from Daegu High School. Bae Jong-yoon signed for a signing bonus of 150 million won, while Lee Hyun-min signed for 100 million won. Catcher Won Ji-woo (18) from Gangneung High School also joined Lotte as a future asset.
Lotte, which is welcoming its rookie players, has recently undergone significant changes in its team management structure. The team finished the regular season in seventh place, failing to advance to the postseason for the ninth consecutive year, and did not renew the contract of former manager Kim Tae-hyung, who had led the team for three years.
Subsequently, Lotte appointed new manager Lee Dong-wook (52) and general manager Lee Taek-geun (46), embarking on a restructuring of the roster and the development of promising players. The growth of the 2027 rookie class, who are beginning their professional careers under the new leadership, is also an important task. Jeon Jun-woo, who attended the event, said, "I am grateful for the opportunity to communicate with the rookies," adding, "Taking this as a starting point, I will actively help the rookie players adapt to the team going forward."
Park Geun-seo, speaking on behalf of the rookie players, stated, "From the tour of the founder's memorial hall to the welcome ceremony with my family, and visits to Lotte World Adventure and Seoul Sky, it was a time when I felt proud to become part of Lotte." He added, "I will strive to show good performances to the fans on the field at Sajik Baseball Stadium while maintaining a strong sense of belonging to Lotte."
Lotte's 2027 rookie players are scheduled to join the rookie camp starting in November to begin training focused on improving basic physical fitness and fundamental skills.
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*This content was translated by AI.View Original
