Ha Hyun-seung (Busan High School), who led South Korea to its first Asian Baseball Championship U-18 title in eight years earlier this month, is set to wear the Kiwoom Heroes uniform as the number one overall pick in the KBO Rookie Draft.

During the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft held at Lotte Hotel World in Songpa-gu, Seoul, today, Kiwoom used its top pick without any surprises to select Ha Hyun-seung.

Ha, who plays as both a pitcher and a hitter, led the team to the championship by appearing in three games during the U-18 tournament, posting 15 and two-thirds innings pitched, 25 strikeouts, four hits allowed, and zero runs.

In the final against Japan, he pitched a complete-game shutout, allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out eight batters over seven innings.

Ha had drawn interest from Major League Baseball (MLB) clubs, including the New York Yankees, but applied for the draft expressing his intention to challenge the big leagues after growing further in the KBO League.

After receiving a Kiwoom uniform and cap from Kiwoom General Manager Huh Seung-pil, Ha shared his ambitions, saying, "I will train hard and make it to the first team quickly," adding, "I want to face KIA Tigers senior Kim Doyoung as a pitcher, and Doosan Bears senior Kwak 빈 as a hitter."

The Doosan Bears, holding the second overall pick, called infielder Kim Ji-woo (Seoul High School), while the KIA Tigers, with the third overall pick, called infielder Lee Ho-min (Gyeongnam High School).

Expectations had circulated early on that Doosan would select Kim Ji-woo, while right-handed power-hitting prospect Lee Ho-min received the call from KIA based on his strong performance at the U-18 Asian Baseball Championship.

Subsequently, pitcher Park Geun-seo (Seoul Design High School) was selected by the Lotte Giants, and pitcher Lee Seung-won (Yushin High School) by the kt wiz.

After the NC Dinos, holding the sixth overall pick, called outfielder Park Bo-seung (Gyeongnam High School), the first round concluded as the Samsung Lions selected pitcher Kim Min-hoon (Gwangju Jinheung High School), the SSG Landers selected pitcher Lee Yoon-sung (Masan High School), the Hanwha Eagles selected pitcher Min Ju-hong (Seoraksan High School), and the LG Twins selected pitcher Yoon Ye-sung (Inchang High School).

Big Leaguer Choi Ji-man (35), who debuted in MLB in 2016 and played across six teams over eight seasons through 2023 with a career batting average of 0.234, 67 home runs, and 238 RBIs, will debut in the South Korean professional league next year after being called by kt with the 15th pick overall in the second round, passing through the civic club Ulsan Whales.

NC, which acquired a third-round rookie draft pick from Samsung last November by trading catcher Park Se-hyuk, called Deoksu High School outfielder Hwang Sung-hyun.

A total of 110 draft applicants, ranging from Ha Hyun-seung down to Gwangju Dongseong High School catcher Jeon Eul-bin called last in the 11th round, were selected by professional clubs.

A total of 22 collegiate players were set to enter the pros, including early draft participants (second-year students and above) such as Dankook University pitcher Cho Beom-gyu (LG 7th round, 70th overall), Inha University outfielder Lee Min-jun (Doosan 9th round, 82nd overall), Dongguk University outfielder Lee Si-eon (SSG 9th round, 88th overall), and Chung-Ang University catcher Wang Ji-hoon (SSG 10th round, 98th overall).

High school graduates-to-be numbered 87, more than four times the number of college players.

By position, pitchers were overwhelmingly the most numerous at 62, followed by 28 infielders, 11 catchers, and 9 outfielders.
 

(Photo: Yonhap News)