Is the draft bad year true? How many more people are going to enter the U.S.

Jul 01, 2025

Is the draft bad year true? How many more people are going to enter the U.S.
Kim Sung-joon of Gwangju Ilgo who participated in the Blue Dragon last year. Sports Chosun DB



The biggest fish in the combined pitching and hitting industry has confirmed its entry into the U.S. early. a blue dragon's eye. How many more will confirm their trip to the U.S.

On June 28, the 80th Cheongryonggi National High School Baseball Championship and the weekend league King Jungjong (co-hosted by the Chosun Ilbo, Sports Chosun, and Korea Baseball Softball Association) kicked off at Mokdong Stadium and Shinwol Stadium in Seoul.

Cheongryonggi is a high school baseball tournament with the longest history, and it is a festival that draws attention at a time when the nomination situation can be changed ahead of the KBO League rookie draft application.




Kim Sung-joon, a third-year student at Gwangju Jeil High School who had already been classified as a 'biggest fish', confirmed his trip to the U.S. by signing with the Texas Rangers. A pitcher who sprays fastballs up to 154 kilometers and doubles as a punchy infielder, he signed a down payment of $1.2 million (about 1.62 billion won) with Texas and confirmed his direct trip to the U.S. In other words, the challenge to achieve the dream of a major leaguer has been decided quickly.

As Kim Sung-joon, who seemed to be the biggest fish, decided to go to the U.S. instead of the KBO League, attention is also being paid to the rest of the big fish players.

Is the draft bad year true? How many more people are going to enter the U.S.
Joong-Go Seo-jun for the interview. Reporter Kim Young-rok
The most likely 'two-top' are Jangchung High School Seo Moon-joon and Cheonan Bukil High School Park Joon-hyun. Both Moon Jae-joon, who throws a fastball over 150 kilometers from his tall height of 1m96, and Park Joon-hyun, who has a solid physique at 1m88 and also throws a powerful ball over 150km, are drawing attention from major league clubs. Park Jun-hyun is also well-known as the son of former Doosan Bears coach Park Seok-min, who was one of the league's best school hitters.




If they participate in the KBO League Rookie Draft, they are likely to be nominated in the first round, and Major League clubs are also looking for talent and signing contracts early.

The players are also in a position to make a final decision after the blue dragon flag is over. "I don't think I'm in a position to talk about my entry into the U.S. right now," Seo Moon-joon said in an interview with reporters after his first appearance on June 29. I'll think about it until the blue dragon flag. I'm worried because the U.S. teams are interested in it and talk about it" has shown its true intentions.

Is the draft bad year true? How many more people are going to enter the U.S.
The 80th Blue Dragon Open National High School Baseball Championship held at Mokdong Baseball Stadium in Seoul on June 29, 2025. Busan High School and Gangneung High School. Kim Jin-wook, No. 19 of Busan High School, is scoring at home in the top of the ninth inning. Kim Ji-ho, Chosun Ilbo reporter
The scouting scene sees the possibility of Seo Do-joon and Park Jun-hyun going to the U.S. a little higher. Recently, top promising players, such as Shim Joon-seok (Miami) and Jang Hyun-seok (Dodgers), are showing their willingness to adapt to the minor leagues in order to go straight to the U.S., and the goals of top high school players have also increased as KBO league players have played in the major leagues.




In addition, left-hander Kang Kyung-woo of Cheonan Bukil High School and infielder Park Hang-yeol of Jeonju High School are also players that Major League clubs are paying attention to.

If Seo Moon-joon and Park Joon-hyun confirm their trip to the U.S., the most likely player to be the first overall player is Yang Woo-jin, a fastball pitcher who sprays 150 kilometers at 1m high in Gyeonggi Air High School.

However, there are still variables. Depending on how many of the leading players will challenge the U.S. or decide to participate in the KBO League draft, the order of first-round picks can be completely different.

First of all, compared to last year, this year's rookie draft is evaluated as a `relatively' famine year. There are still big-time players, but on average, the range of prospects is narrow, so how clever each club makes after the second round is expected to determine the final success or failure.

eyes drawn to the choice of the greatest fish. This is why KBO league clubs are inevitably interested in their choices after Cheongryonggi.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.