A 16-year-old boy's 130m home run, 'hawk's eyes' Scout was also surprised at a young age

Jul 09, 2024

The 79th Blue Dragon Open National High School Baseball Championship match between Seoul High School and Korea Masago held at Mokdong Baseball Stadium in Seoul on the 9th. Kim Ji-woo of Seoul High School with two outs is celebrated after hitting a 130-meter-long solo shot to the left in the top of the fourth inning. Mokdong = Reporter Jung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com

Capture the video of the Korea Baseball Softball Association

The scout who gathered at Mokdong Baseball Stadium was surprised twice. Once for a large home run with a distance of 130 meters, which is not easy to see in high school baseball, twice for the fact that the student who hit this home run is only 16 years old in the first year of high school.

The 79th Cheongryonggi National High School Baseball Championship and weekend league king match between Seoul High School and Korea Martha BC held at Mokdong Baseball Stadium in Seoul on the 9th.

Seoul High School led 9-1 with two outs in the top of the fourth inning. Kim Ji-woo of Seoul High School, who played as the 5th designated hitter, hit the ball of Korean Martha BC Kim Chang-joo and hit a home run with a distance of 130 meters well over the left fence. His batting speed is also 169 kilometers.

Kim Ji-woo, who is 184cm tall and has a sturdy body, is stepping on the groove.

Scouts from each professional baseball team watching the game exclaimed in unison. This is because it is a large home run that is not easy to see in high school baseball after using wooden bats, and it is unbelievable that a first-year high school player hit it.

Kim Ji-woo wasn't actually on the roster for the day. However, as the main third-year player was suddenly injured, he urgently played as a designated hitter.

an unscheduled start. Kim Ji-woo made a walk, an infield hit in the third inning, and a solo shot in the fourth inning in his first at-bat in the first inning, repaying 100% of Seoul High School coach Kim Dong-soo's faith. He had two hits in two at-bats (one homer) with one walk, one RBI and three runs before being replaced in the fifth inning.

Seoul High School scored 16 hits in a row and won a cold victory in the fifth inning with a score of 15 to 1. On the mound, starter Kwon Sung-hyun allowed one run in three innings and Lee Seung-yoon and Jung Sung-wook threw one inning each, blocking the opponent's batters with no runs.

Kim Ji-woo, who entered Seoul High School this year after graduating from Gangnam Middle School, is 184 centimeters tall. His straight shoulders and muscular body also overwhelmed his peers. Manager Kim Dong-soo of Seoul High School said, `Kim Ji-woo has a maximum speed of 148 kilometers as a pitcher. First of all, I plan to grow into an infielder and a batter by the second grade."

Seoul High School coach Kim Dong-soo interviewed after the game

Next is the Q&A with Kim Jiwoo

Kim Ji-woo proudly posed with the commemorative phrase.

▶What is your mindset when you enter the batter's box?

Since I'm a freshman, I thought I should play with my brothers and not cause inconvenience, so I just wanted to get the ball right. Fortunately, I think I went far because I caught it well in front of me.

Did it feel like a home run as soon as I hit ▶?

As soon as I got hit, I thought 'This went'

▶What kind of player do you want to be?

Pitchers and hitters are both good. First of all, I think I'll train a lot in the field of fielders. But for the team, I think the pitcher side should also train together. If possible, I want to be a player who tries both in the professional world.

▶Role model is

Ohtani (LA Dodgers) is a role model. And like Kim Do-young (KIA Tigers), he is working out looking at young players who are active in KBO.