SBS is rolling out a special documentary following Korea’s trailblazing women baseball players as they chase the American pro dream.
Set to premiere in early January, SBS’s documentary “Call Us Crazy: Women’s Baseball” tracks three Korean standouts on their path into the U.S. pro ranks.
History, rewritten: After turning heads at league tryouts, catcher Kim Hyun-a, pitcher Kim Ra-kyung, and shortstop Park Joo-a all landed in the top rounds of the WPBL (Women’s Pro Baseball League) draft. With the WPBL slated to launch next August―marking the first U.S. women’s pro baseball league in roughly 70 years―the trio are poised to become South Korea’s first-ever professional women’s baseball players.
In August, national team catcher Kim Hyun-a (25) went No. 4 overall in the first round to Boston, the first Korean name off the board―and ahead of several Team USA standouts, leaving her stunned. Watching the broadcast, she admitted, “My hands are shaking,” barely believing the moment. She’d said from the start that Boston was her dream destination, and Boston snapped her up as a first-round pick. Evaluators praised her international experience, steady defense, and strong leadership behind the plate.
Next came the face of Korean women’s baseball, pitcher Kim Ra-kyung (25), selected No. 11 overall in the first round by New York. She clasped her hands and rose to her feet the moment her name was called, repeating her thanks. “My goal is to lock down the No. 1 spot in the rotation,” she said. “I want people to feel at ease when they see Kim Ra-kyung on the mound.” A pioneer who holds multiple “firsts” in Korea, Kim’s poise and resume clearly resonated―hence New York’s first-round call.
National team shortstop and fan favorite Park Joo-a (20) went No. 33 overall in the second round to San Francisco. “I’m excited to see the best women’s baseball players in the world come together and compete,” she said, buzzing about the new stage. Scouts were impressed by her clean fundamentals and smooth defense.
The WPBL is set to open in August. All eyes are on how the trio will fare stateside―and the mark they’ll leave on the sport’s history.
SBS’s documentary captures it all: the intense prep leading up to the U.S. tryouts, the on-the-ground action at the WPBL showcase, and the euphoria of draft day―packed into “Call Us Crazy: Women’s Baseball.”
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)