Jangchung High School left-handed ace Hwang Jun-seo, 18, was selected with the No. 1 overall pick.
Hwang Jun-seo was selected No. 1 overall by the Hanwha Eagles in the 2024 KBO Rookie Draft on Thursday at the Grand Ballroom of the Westin Chosun Hotel in Seoul.
Hwang, who has been touted as a big left-handed prospect since his sophomore year, was considered the biggest steal of the draft as Jang Hyun-seok (Masan Yongmago) moved on to the major leagues. This year, he went 6-2 with a 2.16 ERA in 15 games (49⅔ innings), and he also performed well at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup, going 1-2 with a 3.97 ERA in three games (12⅓ innings).
[OSEN=Kyung-hoon Min] The 2024 KBO League Rookie Draft was held on Thursday afternoon at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Sogong, Jung-gu, Seoul. Jang Chung-go Hwang Jun-seo, who was selected in the first round, poses for a photo with Hanwha president Son Hyuk-dan. 2023.09.14 /rumi@osen.co.kr
“Our scouts have been recommending him all year. He’s a pitcher that everyone wants and will want even more in the future,” he said, expressing his delight in selecting Hwang Jun-seo. “We picked him with the expectation that he will immediately compete for the top five next year. In the training part, I was already thinking a lot about how to improve my body in the final camp,” he said, adding that he hoped Hwang would be able to contribute immediately next year.
“It’s a great opportunity to be a starter. I would love to do it, but I don’t care if it’s in the starting rotation or the bullpen,” Hwang said. “In the future, I want to be a pitcher who can be called upon in a crisis situation. I think I’m a pitcher with good game management skills and a pitcher who can strike out hitters. I will show that I can easily compete with batters,” he said about his professional designation.
The number 15 has a special meaning for Hanwha. It was worn by club legend Koo Dae-sung, and Hanwha fans consider it akin to a permanent number. “I want to wear the number 15,” said Hwang Jun-seo, “I kept performing well with the number 15. I will work harder in the pros and become a player worthy of the number,” he said.스포츠토토
[OSEN=Kyung-hoon Min] The 2024 KBO League Rookie Draft was held on the afternoon of the 14th at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Sogong, Jung-gu, Seoul. Jang Chung-go Hwang Jun-seo, who was selected in the first round, poses for a photo with Hanwha president Son Hyuk-dan. 2023.09.14 /rumi@osen.co.kr
Hwang Jun-seo was widely considered the favorite to be selected first overall. But right-hander Kim Taek-yeon, who went 2-0 with a 0.88 ERA in six games (16 innings) while pitching five straight starts at the U-18 Baseball World Cup, threatened Hwang’s spot.
“I didn’t know what was going to happen until my name was called,” said Hwang, who added, “I’m honored to be named No. 1 among such good players.” When asked about his role models, he said, “In the major leagues, I look up to Josh Hader (San Diego). I’m learning a lot from domestic pitchers,” he said.
Hwang Jun-seo, who was expected to go to Hanwha with the No. 1 overall pick, said, “I kept watching Hanwha with interest. I saw them go on a winning streak. Even if I tried not to think about it, I couldn’t help but do it. My personal goal is to win the team championship first. I will try to help the team go as high as possible.” “I think the Hanwha uniform is beautiful. It suits me well,” he laughed.
