There was a reason why the coach took him. Four rookies played in the 2026 international exchange match. Expectations are rising next year

Nov 11, 2025

There was a reason why the coach took him. Four rookies played in the 2026 international exchange match. Expectations are rising next year
Photo courtesy=KT 위즈



There was a reason why the coach took him. Four rookies played in the 2026 international exchange match. Expectations are rising next year
Photo courtesy=KT 위즈
an exchange book standout. You picked a good rookie

"All the newcomers are good."

KT Wiz confirmed the potential of rookie players in the '2025 Taoyuan Asian Professional Baseball Exchange' held at Rakuten Taoyuan Baseball Stadium from the 7th to the 9th.




KT manager Lee Kang-chul included four of the six rookies who were training at the Wakayama wrap-up camp in Japan. Starting with right-hander Park Ji-hoon, who was named the sixth in the first round of the 2026 rookie draft, infielders Lee Kang-min (16th in the second round), Kim Gun-hwi (26th in the third round), and Lee Jae-won (56th in the sixth round) got the opportunity to play.They showed off their potential by playing in both games since the game against the Rakuten Golden Eagles in the Japanese professional baseball league (NPB) on the 7th.

Park Ji-hoon appeared in relief in both games, pitched one hold, two hitless four pitches, and two strikeouts in one ⅔ inning. He cooked the batter with a fastball of up to 150km and a slider divided into two pitches. Kim Gun-hwi, who hit a home run in a practice game against the Japanese social team during the closing camp, started as the third-third baseman on the 7th and stood out on both sides of the offense and defense by connecting Yoshinotsubasa's deep hit with a double play in the top of the second inning with 0-0. Lee Kang-min, who was the second-striker on the day, prevented his team's defeat with a timely RBI single to the right in the bottom of the fifth inning, with one out and runners on the first and third bases. This one point was KT's only score. In the top of the seventh inning, when the score was 1-1, Kei Mizukami, the first baseman with no outs, blew a deep hit and snatched it, then connected it with a double play.

There was a reason why the coach took him. Four rookies played in the 2026 international exchange match. Expectations are rising next year
Photo courtesy=KT 위즈
There was a reason why the coach took him. Four rookies played in the 2026 international exchange match. Expectations are rising next year
Photo courtesy=KT 위즈
He was full of spirit. Those who actually played for the first time as KT players did not tremble or shrink in front of coach Lee and made a confident impression. Lee Kang-min "It's not that I wasn't nervous at all, but I tried to take advantage of the tension. After the good play, the tension was relieved and the game became more fun." After looking back, "I don't think I was nervous", Kim Gun-hwi said, "I wanted to show you what I've prepared without regret, but rather than nervous, I had fun running."."

Director Lee said, `All the rookies are good this time. I was curious about how he would look in real life, so I brought him to this exchange game, but he showed good performances," he said.

KT nominated them with a long-term perspective. KT focused on reinforcing fielders and strengthening its center line ahead of this draft. Lee Kang-min, Kim Gun-hwi, and Lee Jae-won are the figures who will be the center of this nomination strategy.

Lee Kang-min, who is considered a future professional shortstop, showed why KT exercised its right to nominate him in the second round. Shim Kwang-ho, head of KT's scouting team, said, `Lee Kang-min is a fast-nominated player in the second round,' adding, `Even though there were quite a few good pitchers left in the second round.'" he said. After replacing Lee Jae-won as a pinch runner against the Rakuten Monkeys in the Taiwan Professional Baseball (CPBL) on the 9th, he made an infield hit with his fast feet and played the second baseman defense to increase the value of his use.






This article was translated by Naver AI translator.