Scouts picked players who struggled in the scorching sun, I can't evaluate them, but it went smoothly as planned

Sep 18, 2025

Scouts picked players who struggled in the scorching sun, I can't evaluate them, but it went smoothly as planned
Kim Jae-hyun, SSG leader, puts a hat on first-round pick Kim Min-joon (left). Photo =SSG Landers



"I even vomited in 2 games under the scorching sun at Mokdong Stadium? I can't say anything about the players I've worked so hard to pick."

In this rookie draft, SSG Landers were able to select as planned", expressing great satisfaction.

SSG acquired a satisfactory result table internally in the 2026 KBO Rookie Draft held on the 17th. SSG, which recruited Daegu High School right-hander Kim Min-joon in the first round, selected Sebyeong infielder Kim Yo-sep in the second round and Gwangnam BC outfielder Jang Jae-yul in the third round. The fourth-round pick was taken by NC due to the Kim Sung-wook trade, and overseas pitcher Cho Jae-woo in the fifth round, Gyeongbuk High School outfielder Lee Seung-bin in the sixth round, Deoksu outfielder Oh Si-hoo in the seventh round, Gyeongnam High School pitcher Shin Sang-yeon in the eighth round, Gwangju Jinheung High School pitcher Kim Tae-hyun in the ninth round, Han Kwang BC pitcher Kim Jae-hoon in the 10th round, and Korea University infielder Ahn Jae-yeon in the 11th round were also selected.




In particular, I prepared so many scenarios for the first round nomination. SSG's first round nomination is the fifth. Except for Park Joon-hyun (Kium), who is the No. 1 overall, there were too many variables about which players would be nominated in No. 2 to 4. This is why the 'all-time ironclad security' and secret naming strategy have been maintained.

Scouts picked players who struggled in the scorching sun, I can't evaluate them, but it went smoothly as planned
2026 KBO rookie draft was held at Lotte Hotel World in Seoul on the 17th. Daegu High School Kim Min-joon, who was nominated in the first round by SSG, is taking a commemorative photo. Jamsil = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.09.17/
Moreover, this year's rookie draft was more difficult to predict because there were not many big fish players than in previous years. Last year, the first, second, third and fourth rankings were clearly seen, because this year, even scouting experts did not see it as clearly.

It became more difficult to predict as No. 2 NC and No. 3 Hanwha made 'surprise picks' with reinforcement of fielders that they thought they needed the most. Even the fourth-ranked Lotte chose Dongsan High School pitcher Shin Dong-gun, who has good physicality.




As a result of running several simulations and reviewing the most necessary reinforcement parts of the team, the fifth SSG saw that the first priority was to nominate a starting pitcher.

SSG selected two pitchers, three outfielders and one infielder among the six players it nominated up to the seventh round. Starting pitcher and outfield reinforcement. These are the positions the team needs most clearly right now.

The only part I thought about ahead of the first round nomination was the coexistence of Daegu High School pitcher Kim Min-joon, who was expected to be nominated first, and Gyeonggi Air High School pitcher Yang Woo-jin, who seemed likely to be nominated first. But as planned, SSG named Kim Min-joon.




Scouts picked players who struggled in the scorching sun, I can't evaluate them, but it went smoothly as planned
2026 KBO rookie draft was held at Lotte Hotel World in Seoul on the 17th. Daegu High School Kim Min-joon, who was nominated in the first round by SSG, is taking a commemorative photo. Jamsil = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.09.17/
Lee Sung-yong, the first-team coach who was preparing for the game in Changwon, also watched the first round nomination live on TV. The SSG club has also been in communication with on-site conductor Lee Sung-yong regarding the nomination.

Director Lee Soo-yong said, `I don't think the coach will give an opinion like this when it comes to drafts. "Coaches may want instant power, but more than that, I think it's their role to make the coach use the player in the first team if the club design it in a future-oriented way first." Scouts have been following the players closely for years. They are experts. I watched two games in Mok-dong under the scorching sun when I was the general manager, and it was so hard that I vomited. The scouts are really struggling, and I've been looking for them one by one, but I don't think the scene is saying this or that."

Scouts picked players who struggled in the scorching sun, I can't evaluate them, but it went smoothly as planned
2026 KBO rookie draft was held at Lotte Hotel World in Seoul on the 17th. Daegu High School Kim Min-joon, who was nominated in the first round by SSG, is taking a commemorative photo. Jamsil = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.09.17/
However, manager Lee Sung-yong also agreed to pick a pitcher in the top round. Coach Lee said, `The front office will also make efforts to select skills that can work in the first and second rounds right away. I think about what to do according to the players' tendencies"But "Park Ji-hwan and Jung Joon-jae came last year and played good roles. I think the pitcher needs more reinforcement, he said.

Regarding the results of the draft, the SSG team said, `We prioritized securing fielders with advantages that are consistent with the club's development philosophy, such as strengthening the mound depth and physical strength and attitude toward baseball considering the reorganization of domestic selection resources,' adding, `Kim Min-joon is considered an immediate sense of power as he uses a heavy fastball and high-quality breaking ball measuring 152 km. I'm satisfied with the fact that we evenly nominated starting pitchers and long-distance fielders according to our strategy."





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.