Who's the most promising rookie for 500 million duo? KIA 1R Rising Star Rocks...I saw something outstanding
Jan 06, 2025
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The KIA Tigers are watching right-hander Kim Tae-hyung (19), who was ranked fifth overall in the first round of the 2025 rookie draft. As a former Deoksu ace, Kim Tae-hyung joined the finishing camp in Okinawa, Japan, in November last year and immediately showed a sense of power and received a passing score from coach Lee Bum-ho and other coaches. Starting from the end of this month, he will join the first spring camp of the first team in Irvine, California, and compete with seniors such as Yoon Young-chul (21), Kim Do-hyun (25), and Hwang Dong-ha (23).
Kim Tae-hyung is drawing attention that he will shake the competition for the Rookie of the Year in 2025. The most likely candidates for the Rookie of the Year are left-handed fireballer Jung Hyun-woo (19, Keum Heroes), the first overall pick in the first round, and right-handed pitcher Jung Woo-joo (19, Hanwha Eagles). The two players received 500 million won in down payment side by side and were recognized as the most anticipated stocks of the new year. KIA showed the club's expectations by giving Kim Tae-hyung a down payment of 300 million won despite being the fifth overall nominee.
Chung Hyun-woo and Jung Woo-joo drew attention with their fastballs. Chung Hyun-woo throws fast balls over 150 kilometers per hour even though he is left-handed, and has excellent breaking ball skills such as fork balls and curves. Last year, he played with eight wins and no losses, 48 ⅓ innings, 70 strikeouts, 13 walks, and an ERA of 0.75 in 16 high school baseball weekend league games.
Jung Woo-joo already hit a maximum fastball speed of 156km when he was in high school. He dreams of a 160km/h trio with Hanwha Moon Dong-ju (22) and Kim Seo-hyun (21). Jung Woo-joo's soft pitching form is excellent in fastball speed and movement, raising questions about whether he will show off the same power as Kim Taek-yeon (20, Doosan Bears), who won the Rookie of the Year award by dominating the professional stage with one fastball last year. Jung Woo-joo recorded 5-1 losses, 54 ⅔ innings, 94 strikeouts, 34 pitches and an ERA of 1.31 in 19 high school baseball weekend league games last year.
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KIA pitching coach Chung Jae-hoon said, "(Kim) Tae-hyung is likely to go to camp first among newcomers and build up toward the starting pitcher by throwing long exhibition games. In fact, it is not easy to choose a position such as "I am a starter in the first team" or "I am in the middle" with only what I did in high school. However, in the closing camp, the club, the manager, and I are thinking the same way that we should build up as a starting pitcher" he said.
In the closing camp, Kim Tae-hyung showed full potential in the eyes of the leaders even though he pitched a light bullpen. As a 19-year-old player, if he has the physical strength to endure full-time in the first team while making his body full, he will be able to establish himself as a player who can rotate the starting rotation in the near future.
Coach Chung said, `I didn't pitch like a game in the closing camp. I looked at the player's disposition, temperament, and training attitude rather than how the ball was or what kind of pitch was good. I saw if I could control my body in throwing the ball, and I confirmed that I had such an excellent ability. "I evaluated him as a player who can do his part to a certain extent if he is not well-adapted and has no injuries." Kia fans, who are waiting for Kim Tae-hyung's debut season, raised expectations.
For the past six years, pitchers have been strong in KBO Rookie of the Year. LG Twins Jung Woo-young (26) in 2019, KT Wiz So Hyung-joon (24) in 2020, KIA Lee Eui-ri (23) in 2021, Doosan Jung Chul-won (26, current Lotte Giants) in 2022, Hanwha Moon Dong-ju in 2023, and Doosan Kim Taek-yeon in 2024.
With top designated pitchers such as Kim Tae-hyung, Chung Hyun-woo, Jung Woo-joo, Bae Chan-seung (19, Samsung Lions), and Kim Tae-hyun (19, Lotte) expected to be strong again this year, attention is being paid to whether Kim Tae-hyung will be able to give KIA the third rookie trophy in the club's history.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
