The rookies for the 2024 season, who will wear the Lotte Giants uniforms and take the field at Busan’s Sajik Stadium, will be decided on Thursday. Lotte’s strategy is to select a mix of immediate impact players and future resources based on the data it has accumulated over the years from its draft participants.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) will hold the 2024 KBO League Rookie Draft on Thursday at the Westin Chosun Seoul Grand Ballroom. A total of 1083 players, including high school and college players and amateur players, will participate in the draft, and up to 110 players will wear the uniforms of professional baseball clubs.바카라사이트
Lotte will be the third team to select a first-round player in the draft, after the Hanwha Eagles and Doosan Bears, based on its 2022 season performance (8th place). Lotte’s scouting team is expected to debate between “Idoryu” Jeon Mir (Gyeongbuk High School) and “hard-throwing pitcher” Yuk Sun-yeop (Jangchung High School) until the final call.
Jeon is considered to have both pitching and hitting talents. Jeon is a right-handed pitcher who stands at 188 centimeters tall and weighs 95 kilograms, and he has performed evenly on the mound and at the plate. In July, he helped lead Gyeongbuk High School to the Cheongryonggi National High School Baseball Championship.
On the mound, Jeon appeared in 14 games (67 and two-thirds innings) this season, posting a 5-1 record with a 1.32 ERA and a 0.85 WHIP.
At the plate, he was a force to be reckoned with. In 27 games at the plate, Jeon finished with a .346 (28-for-81) batting average, three home runs, 32 RBIs, a .519 slugging percentage, and a 1.032 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage). Some analysts believe he could develop into a “power hitter” based on his strength.
Jeon is nicknamed “Fighting Chicken” in high school baseball due to his excellent physical condition and strong desire to win. If Lotte chooses Jeon, it will have to come up with a development strategy for how to utilize him on the mound and at the plate.
Yuk Sun-yeop is another player Lotte could covet. He is considered to be a right-handed starting pitcher who can be utilized immediately.
He is a 190-centimeter tall, 90-kilogram right-hander. He has a fastball that reaches over 150 kilometers per hour, thanks to his good physical condition. He also has an excellent changeup and is immediately recognized as a power pitcher by scouts.
In 12 games (21 and two-thirds innings) this season, Yuk has a 2-0 record with a 0.41 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. He struck out 13 batters in 10 innings at the World Baseball Softball Confederation U-18 World Youth Baseball Championship, which ended on Nov. 11 in Taiwan, and he was particularly impressive in his start against the Netherlands on Nov. 8, throwing 68 pitches and striking out five in three and two-thirds innings.
Meanwhile, pitchers Won Sang-hyun and Sung Young-tak, who led the Busan Golden Lion to the title this season, are also certain to be selected by KBO clubs.
Won Sang-hyun performed well thanks to his excellent fastball and his main weapon, a power curveball. Sung Young-tak was the ace pitcher for Busan High School thanks to his excellent fastball. Busan High outfielder Yeon Jun-won is also expected to be drafted in the top round.