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| 2026 KBO rookie draft was held at Lotte Hotel World in Seoul on the 17th. Nominated Park Joon-hyun and Oh Jae-won are taking a commemorative photo with the president of Heo Gu-yeon. Jamsil = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.09.17/ |
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A rookie is just a rookie.
There's no rule that you can't just be a rookie. Last season, Kim Taek-yeon (Doosan) alone caused a 's sensation' However, the KBO League is currently a place where it is really difficult for rookie players to succeed right away. So you shouldn't be misled by simple numbers. It is right to slightly lower the expectations that these players will do something right away.
The 2026 KBO League Rookie Draft is over. The first overall honor was held by Park Joon-hyun, famous for his "Park Seok-min's son". He took his first step as a professional player in Kiwoom Heroes. In addition, this year's draft was summarized under the keyword 'Continuation of Unexpected Events'. Usually, clubs nominate pitchers in the first round, but the NC Dinos and Hanwha Eagles, who have the second and third overall nomination rights, consecutively nominated Yoo Shin-jae and Oh Jae-won, the fielders, to stir up the atmosphere. The Doosan Bears also surprisingly nominated Kim Joo-oh, a big shot of Masan Yongmago, who was not even mentioned by name. Even the player himself was surprised, saying, `I didn't know I would be selected in the first round.'
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| 2026 KBO rookie draft was held at Lotte Hotel World in Seoul on the 17th. The nominated players are taking a commemorative photo. Jamsil = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.09.17/ |
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Even before the draft is held, the attention of fans and the media is sky high. It is natural that it can control the future of the team. With the recent surge in baseball popularity, fans' interest has increased, and there is even an expert-level analysis due to the knowledge of amateur players. It's also a lot of fun to predict who will be our team's players.
However, in conclusion, rookies are only rookies. It is clear that these players have the potential to grow well, but if you ask if they are players who will change the team and league game right now, that is not cool. Ahead of the draft, the league is wrapped up as if it were 'chew', but the reality is not easy. So, there is no need to worry about who you voted for or whether you didn't.
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| The match between the Hanwha Eagles and the Kiwoom Heroes at Hanwha Life Ball Park in Daejeon on the 14th. Kiwoom Jung Hyun-woo is catching his breath. Daejeon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.09.14/ |
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Let's look back on the draft of the last two years. Chung Hyun-woo (Kium) and Chung Woo-joo (Hanwha), who were selected as the first overall pick last year. Around this time last year, Chung was praised as a complete left-hander who threw a 153km fastball. Jung Woo-joo was a huge prospect who received a major league offer with a fastball exceeding 155km. However, Chung is an ordinary pitcher who throws around 140 kilometers. Jung Woo-joo's ball was fast, but it was not so important due to the completeness of the breaking ball.
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| Hanwha Jung Woo-joo, who passed the crisis with two outs and runners on the first and third bases at the bottom of the 5th inning, is heading to the dugout at the Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on the 7th. Daegu= Reporter's book@sportschosun.com/2025.09.07/ |
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Two years ago, Hwang Joon-seo (Hanwha), who ranked first overall, also said he is a left-hander who can freely throw 150 kilometers. However, he became a pitcher who threw more fork balls than fastballs in his first season. Kim Taek-yeon hit the rookie season 'Awesome', but she is suffering from a terrible second-year jinx this year. It is a place where it is difficult to overwhelm the opponent and maintain consistency. Pitchers play in the first team, but few of the fielders have immediately risen to the main level. Except for Kiwoom Heroes, who continue to receive opportunities due to team circumstances.
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| 2026 KBO rookie draft was held at Lotte Hotel World in Seoul on the 17th. Bukil High School's Park Joon-hyun, who was nominated in the first round by Kiwoom, is taking a commemorative photo. Jamsil = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.09.17/ |
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Park Jun-hyun's 157km is another hot topic this year. Shin Jae-in is '2nd Choi Jung (SSG)', and Oh Jae-won is likely to become Hanwha's main center fielder right away. Yang Woo-jin, who throws 153 kilometers, is arguing that why he was pushed to eighth place. But as I said above, rookies are rookies. For Yang Woo-jin's example, experts say it may be difficult to survive at the current level of change, regardless of the elbow fatigue fracture.
It is worth keeping in mind that it took many years for Kim Do-young (KIA) and Kim Joo-won (NC) to grow into the league's top players. Won Tae-in (Samsung) also went through two years of trial and error before becoming a 14-win pitcher.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
