The 2025 KBO Rookie Draft has more pitching talent than ever before

The 2025 KBO Rookie Draft, which will take place in the second half of the year, has more pitching talent than ever before. There are plenty of hard-throwing pitchers who can reach over 150 kilometers per hour. One of the best of them is Duksugo left-hander Jeong Hyun-woo, 18, who showed why.

Jeong pitched for the high school all-star team in the 2nd Hanwha Eagles Bae High School-College All-Star Game at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon on June 6. Right-handed fireballer Jung Woo-ju (18, Jeonju, South Korea), who throws a fastball up to 156 kilometers per hour, was selected as the starter due to his dominant performance this year.

In 12 high school games this year, Jeong has pitched 40⅓ innings, going 7-0 with a 0.68 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 56 innings pitched. He has a smooth delivery with a solid fastball and changeup.

In this game, it was clear why he is the No. 1 high school pitcher in the country. In the first inning, Jung walked the first team college all-star left fielder Young-woong Jung. He started with a two-ball, but worked a strike and a foul ball to get a 2-2 count, then froze the batter with a slider that curved away from his body. 스포츠토토 He then fired back-to-back 150-mile-per-hour fastballs for 1-2 against right-hander Han-min Lee. He fouled off a five-pitch fastball for a foul fly to first base and then struck out left fielder Kyo-won Moon on a wild swing. On a 1-2 pitch, he induced a wild swing with a dropped forkball.

Finished the first inning on 15 pitches.

He showed command of all of his pitches, including his fastball, which topped out at 150 mph by Trackman, and his slider, curveball, and forkball. KBSN Sports commentator Kim Tae-gyun, a ‘Hanwha Legend’ with 2209 hits and 311 home runs in his career, also commented on the game, saying, “All of his pitches are perfect. His pitching form is stable, so his pitches are never shaky.” He also praised Jung Hyun-woo.

Jung Woo-ju, the ‘156-kilometer fireballer’ who has received interest from the major leagues, has decided to remain in Korea and has shown his intention to challenge for the No. 1 spot in the rookie draft. However, based on his current form, Jung has a slight edge. One scout said, “Jeong Hyun-woo is better in terms of immediate power. He’s better than Yoon Young-cheol (KIA) and Hwang Jun-seo (Hanwha) in terms of restraint.”

Following in the footsteps of Chung Am-go Yoon Young-cheol (KIA) in 2022 and Jang Chung-go Hwang Jun-seo (Hanwha) last year, Jeong has been steadily improving in terms of speed, reaching a top speed of 152 kilometers per hour. Even in the first inning of the All-Star Game, his fastball was in the mid-to-high 140s. At 184 centimeters and 87 kilograms, he is shorter than Yoon Young-cheol (187 centimeters and 85 kilograms) and Hwang Jun-seo (185 centimeters and 78 kilograms), but he has more weight and is stronger.

Jung Hyun-woo, who was awarded the Outstanding Pitcher Award at the All-Star Game, said, “I think I did a good job by sticking to the innings I was given. I was half worried and half excited, but when I got on the mound, I was able to relax and throw easily.” ”I didn’t expect to start because I have a lot of good friends, but it was an honor to start. (Jung) Woo-ju and all the pitchers pitched well, so I felt comfortable watching the game from the second inning. They were throwing faster balls than me, and my pitches were good.”

Unusually for a left-handed pitcher,

Hwang has also practiced forkball, which can be a big weapon in the professional game. Hwang Jun-seo has been having a lot of fun this year, and Jeong could see similar benefits. “I’ve been practicing and preparing since last winter, and I’ve been throwing well throughout the season,” he said.

Chung was aiming for the No. 1 overall pick in the rookie draft rather than going straight to the United States. There are still about three months until the rookie draft, which will be held in the second half of the year. With the No. 1 overall pick, 슬롯 보증 사이트 Kiwoom had a happy conundrum. The lack of left-handed pitching in Kiwoom’s roster lends a little more weight to the possibility of selecting Jeong, but the talent of Jeong, who can easily throw 156 kilometers, is hard to ignore. If Jeong solidifies his No. 1 ranking in the remaining days leading up to the draft, Kiwoom’s choice will be easier.

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