The professional baseball rookie draft is where high school players take their first steps as professional players.
To take that first step, athletes fall countless times and stand up again. At this time, there are support groups who cry and laugh along with the players. They are my parents. This is why the nominated players always mention ‘parents’.
Professional baseball team KT holds a special event with new players nominated to honor their parents. This is an event where players sign their first autograph ball with the team logo on it after being nominated as pros and deliver it to their parents with the words they were unable to say. KT has been organizing this event for 6 years since the 2018 rookie draft. It has already become a club tradition.
The KT baseball team selected a total of 11 players, including Busan High School right-handed pitcher Won Sang-hyeon (19) and Gangneung High School right-handed pitcher Yuk Cheong-myeong (18), in the 2024 KBO (Korea Baseball Organization) rookie draft held at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 14th.
Won Sang-hyun, who was selected as the 7th overall pick in the first round, is a pitcher with a fastball with a maximum speed of 150 km and a stable breaking ball, and his game management ability is excellent, so he is evaluated as having ‘instant power.’ Yuk Cheong-myeong, who was ranked 17th overall in the second round and wore the KT uniform, is also a versatile pitcher who shows the most confidence in his slider, throwing balls that exceed 150 km per hour.
They participated in KT’s traditional event and expressed their thoughts and future aspirations. I said things I had been too embarrassed to say to my parents, pressing them into the baseball.
Won Sang-hyeon said, “This was the team I wanted to join the most, so I’m happy to be nominated. I would like to ask a lot of questions (about their secrets) to So Hyeon-Jun and senior Park Young-Hyeon. “I’ve often heard that Younghyun resembles my older brother,” he said with a smile. “It was nice to be able to share my heart-felt story with my mother for the first time in an event organized by the club. “I felt depressed, but I will work hard to maintain this mindset while continuing my professional career.”
Won Sang-hyeon gave his mother Kim Hye-sun a signed baseball with the words, “I will become the best son who represents humanity.” Mr. Kim said, “I’m proud of you for not giving up and doing well. “He has become a full-fledged professional player, so I hope he shows good performance by taking good care of his body and injuries,” he said. “He went to the team he wanted, so I have no doubt that he will become a pitcher representing the league, just like the determination he wrote on the ball.” I will also work hard to support you from behind. “I am grateful to the club for giving me meaningful memories,” he said happily.안전놀이터
Yuk Cheong-myeong said, “I was really moved to give my parents the first sign I had dreamed of as a gift. “I feel like I have come to a professional club,” he said. “I feel even more responsible because I was nominated earlier than expected.” “He will be proud as a member of a prestigious club,” he said. He wrote the proud slogan ‘Now I will make money’ on a baseball ball. Her mother, Sunyoung Jeong, who received the ball, said, “I am fortunate to have been nominated as a pro, and I am really grateful to Cheongmyeong for persevering faithfully.” She added, “He gave me the first signing ball and said that he would make the money now, but Cheongmyeong, who was like a child, said everything. “It was so big, so cute and special that I was moved to tears,” he said happily.