Professional Baseball Rookie Draft Will Be Held Today

The Korea Baseball Organization KBO will hold the 2024 KBO rookie draft at the Westin Chosun Hotel Grand Ballroom in Sogong-dong, Seoul, from 2 p.m. on the 14th.

The rookie draft has been held in a full draft format since last year. There will be 11 rounds in total. The nominations will be made in the order of Hanwha Eagles, Doosan Bears, Lotte Giants, Samsung Lions, NC Dinos, KIA Tigers, KT Wiz, LG Twins, Kiwoom Heroes and SSG Landers. Following last year, Hanwha will exercise the right to nominate the first place overall in the full draft for the second consecutive year.

However, Kiwoom, which received the right to nominate other teams through a trade, received the right to nominate in the first round through a trade with LG. Therefore, two competitors can be nominated in the first round. In addition, he will exercise the right to nominate for the second and third rounds he received from KIA and Samsung. NC also has the right to nominate for the seventh round from Hanwha.

This year's rookie draft candidates are a total of 1,083 people, including 782 high school graduates, 296 college graduates including 41 early drafts, and five other players, including overseas ama and professional players. Through the "Early Draft System," which has been in effect since last year, two-year college players can also participate in the draft.

The pitcher's strength is clear in this draft. Some predict that all 10 players in the first round will be filled with pitchers.

The most likely candidate overall is Jangchung High School left-hander Hwang Joon-seo. Hwang Joon-seo, who is 187cm and 80kg in good physical condition, uses splitters, sliders and curves for a fast ball that is nearly 150km long. His physique and pitching style are said to remind him of Kim Kwang-hyun's high school days. 토토사이트

Kim Taek-yeon, a right-hander at Incheon High School, is expected to wear Doosan's uniform as the second priority without any major changes. Kim Taek-yeon, who is considered the "second Ko Woo-suk," is well-received for his heavy fastball of up to 153 kilometers and stable control.

Kim Taek-yeon's stock price recently rose further through the U-18 Baseball World Cup. The possibility of nominating first overall is also being discussed. However, it is not expected to be easy to give up Hwang Joon-seo due to the Hanwha team's lack of left-handed pitchers.

In addition, Jeon Mir Gyeongbuk High School, Yuk Sun-yeop Jangchung High School, Kim Hwi-gun Whimoon High School, and Jeon Joon-pyo Seoul High School are mentioned as top picks for the first round. Won Sang-hyun Busan High School and Cho Dae-hyun Gangneung High School are also expected to be selected easily in the first round.

Among the fielders, infielder Yeo Dong-gun Seoul High School, who is expected to be a "five-tool player," and Park Ji-hwan three advertisements, who is considered the biggest fish for high school shortstop, are drawing attention. As a college graduate, left-hander Jung Hyun-soo Song Won-dae, who was recognized for his skills in the baseball entertainment program "The Strongest Baseball," is expected to be selected as a lower pick in the first round