Attention is also paid to the 1R sub-pick of the 'left-hander craze' that sweeps the D-1 rookie draft, why?
Sep 10, 2024
|
Upper round, with a prominent feature. It is a strong market for left-handed pitchers.
As the draft approaches, left-handed pitchers are raising their stock prices steeply, breaking their original expectations.
Both the first and third rankings in the first round, which drew the most attention, are expected to be filled with left-handed pitchers.
Until the first half of this season, the first and third-place picks of Jeon and right-hander Jung Woo-ju, Deoksu left-hander Jung Hyun-woo, Deoksu right-hander Kim Tae-hyung seemed to be in a regular arrangement.
However, left-handed pitchers' strides began after the summer blue dragon competition.
Deoksu High School left-hander Chung Hyeon-woo booked the first place overall, beating right-hander Jung Woo-ju of Jeonju High School. The first choice of Kiwoom Heroes in the first round is likely to be the first overall pick.
Initially, Kiwoom's choice was expected to be Jung Woo-joo. The best fireballer in high school who easily throws the mid-150km range with his soft form. However, over the summer, stories began to be heard that Jung Woo-joo turned to Jung Hyun-woo, not Jung Woo-joo. Kiwoom's general manager Ko Hyung-wook, who looks everywhere at the amateur scene, also said, `After Ryu Hyun-jin (Hanwha), Kim Kwang-hyun (SSG), and Yang Hyun-jong (KIA), there have been no left-handers who can overwhelm the opponent, but we judge that Chung Hyun-woo can become such a player", he did not deny it positively.
Naturally, Jung Woo-joo is expected to choose the second-ranked Hanwha Eagles in the first round. Hanwha will build a super-powerful right-hander fireball troika that will lead to Moon Dong-ju, Kim Seo-hyun and Jung Woo-ju.
|
Initially, Kim Tae-hyung was ahead, but Gwangju Il High School left-hander Kim Tae-hyun emerged rapidly after the Blue Dragon Open.
Although it is only 147 kilometers in maximum speed, the fastball pitch created by the ideal mechanism, the vertical movement from the high RBI, and the strong rotation speed is strong. The deception (hidden motion) is also good, so the speed felt is faster from the batter's point of view. A pitcher with excellent strikeout ability combined with a high pitch-value splitter. It reminds me of Koo Chang-mo of the NC Dinos. His ball control is also stable, so he is a prospect who can foster starters through bullpen immediately when he joins the professional league.
Meanwhile, Bong Hwang-gi and Daegu High School left-hander Bae Chan-seung, who recovered his old ball power at the 13th Asian Youth Baseball Championship, which ended in Taiwan on the 9th, are causing a change in perception with their strong presence.
Bae Chan-seung, who had been attracting attention as the best left-hander in high school along with Chung Hyun-woo since his second year, was sluggish in the early third year due to his slightly shaky balance. The turn was also slightly pushed back.
However, recently, he has regained his fastball pitching in the 150km range, drawing attention as a top ranker. In particular, the stock price was raised with a fastball over 150km and a large slider. Another factor is that it is supported by Samsung fans for its merit as a left-handed pitcher in the relational area who throws a 150-kilometer fastball.
Whether Samsung takes Kim Tae-hyun or Bae Chan-seung, the fourth-ranked Lotte Giants have an opportunity to choose between the two left-handed specials. Right-hander Kim Tae-hyung is also a possible option.
|
This is because there is a surprise option called Vibongo left-hander Park Jung-hoon. With a superior physical condition of 1m92 and 100kg, 'I'm brought from hell, which is well over 150km', is a left-handed fireballer. With a slider that continues to flow outside the left-handed batter on a 153km fast ball and a sharp change-up, both left and right hitters can face each other. Wild pitching form can be both an advantage and a disadvantage, but it is an attractive card that cannot be overlooked in its growth potential as a left-hander who is well over 150 kilometers.
The pitcher who is drawing attention in the lower part of the first round is left-hander Kwon Min-gyu.
A pitcher who has sophisticated ball control in a soft pitching form with solid basic skills. He can spray up to 146-7km at a high RBI of 1m89 and has a slider with high pitch value. The stable pitching balance, with only two walks in 44 innings, reminds me of Yoo Hee-kwan 'ball fast'. If he starts, he is regrettable to be in the early 140km range, but his basic skills are solid, so if he builds up his body well after joining the professional league and raises his speed, he will be in the spotlight as a player who can be used immediately in the first team.
Although he is not a first-round pick, Lee Dong-young of Sangwon High School in Daegu is also a notable left-hander. Although it is early 140km, it is attracting attention in the second round or less as a pitcher who knows how to play with a fast ball with a good tip and a big breaking ball.
|
All 10 teams, which had an unprecedented and intense ranking battle this season, are shouting 'Win Now'.
Teams that have remained at the bottom in recent years, such as Hanwha, Lotte, and Samsung, have started to leap to the top starting this season. Even the lowest-ranked Kiwoom, which has attracted a large number of prospects, is dreaming of a great leap forward from the 2026 season starting next season.
Of course, the No. 1 rookie draft pick is likely to be a helpful choice for the current power right now. It's better than the fielders who need time to get the main jobA left-hander who can be used as a one-point relief among them, a pitcher who is a lead, can help the power right away.
Another factor driving the pitching market, especially the left-hander-led market, is that there are no strong fielders that will shake the top game like Kim Do-young.
hschung@sportschosun.com
