“We picked Heo In-seo a year ago. I wish you luck again.”
Two days before the 2023 draft. The wish of Hanwha scouting team leader Jeong Min-hyeok became a reality. Hanwha, who nominated Heo In-seo, who was rated as the best catcher in the 2nd round of the 2022 rookie draft, also called a special beast resource in the 2nd round of the rookie draft a year later. Following Kim Seo-hyun from Seoul High School in the first round, Moon Hyun-bin, an infielder from Bukil High School in the second round, was selected as the best prospect in the pitching game.
Hanwha 7th hitter Moon Hyun-bin is on base with 2 RBIs and 2 bases from 2 out 1 and 2 base in the beginning of the 7th inning of the 2023 professional baseball Doosan Bears and Hanwha Eagles game held at Jamsil Stadium on the 3rd. 2023.05.03.Reporter Kang Young-jo kanjo@sportsseoul.com
In the upcoming 메이저놀이터fall 2024 rookie draft, Hanwha’s point of view is expected to be the same. Masan Yongmago Jang Hyun-seok is likely to be nominated as the 1st overall pick in the 1st round, and the 11th overall target in the 2nd round is expected to be a beast.
That’s the team situation. The pitching staff is calculated, but the fielding staff is the problem. Among the nine positions in the lineup, there are only two or three positions that can put pressure on the opponent. Not all teams have made the top and bottom batting lines thick, but they have to be strong from 1 to 5 in order to establish a so-called scoring formula. At this rate, Noh Si-hwan and Chae Eun-seong will have to play a lonely game throughout the season.
That is why it is essential to supply field players through draft. However, the upcoming 2024 rookie draft is evaluated as a’super strong pitcher’. Some scouts predict that all 10 players in the first round will become pitchers. There are more than 10 pitchers selected for the first round, including Jang Hyun-seok, Hwang Jun-seo, Cho Dae-hyun, Yuk Chung-myeong, Kim Taek-yeon, Yuk Seon-yeop, Kim Hwi-gun, Jeon Mir, Lee Chan-sol, Son Hyun-ki, and Jo Dong-wook.
The fact that new pitchers, including this year’s rookies, have quickly risen as first-team resources in recent years is a factor that puts weight on pitcher nomination. In addition, the preference for pitchers from amateurs is noticeable. If you have excellent physical condition and athletic ability, you often start as a pitcher.
A scout for a local club said, “If you know how to throw since elementary school, you want to be a pitcher. After going up to middle school, there are students who will not be pitchers,” he said. If you know how to throw a ball, you want a pitcher.”
So, attention is focused on Hanwha’s second round selection. Normally, the first and second round picks are allotted to the pitcher, but as in the past few years, Hanwha has to take care of the fielder who will be responsible for the team’s future.
Heo In-seo received a good evaluation in the karate and enlisted in Sangmu, and newcomer Moon Hyun-bin entered the opening entry and is steadily playing in the first team. Both of them still have a long way to go, but in a few years, there is a good chance that Heo In-seo will be Hanwha’s main catcher and Moon Hyun-bin will be the main infielder.
Hanwha No. 9 hitter Moon Hyun-bin is on base with 2 RBIs and 2 RBIs in the beginning of the 7th inning of the 2023 professional baseball KT Wiz and Hanwha Eagles game held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 14th. 2023.04.14.Suwon | Reporter Kang Young-jo kanjo@sportsseoul.com
In the 2024 rookie draft, catchers Lee Sang-jun from Gyeonggi High School, and infielders include Cho Hyeon-min from Chungam High School, Dong-gun Yeo from Seoul High School, An-seok Jeong from Whimoon High School, Gyu-hyeok Han from Incheon High School, and Jong-seong Lim from Gyeongbuk High School. Outfielders include Park Chae-yul from Chungam High School, Lee Seung-min from Whimoon High School, and Cho Se-ik from Gyeongnam High School.
Among them, no one is evaluated as super-class like Min-seok Kim of Lotte and Beom-seok Kim of LG, who were nominated in the first round a year ago. Still, the 11th overall pick held by Hanwha could become a beast. Given the fact that the second-round pick allows them to pick the 2024 Draft’s best beast, and the situation the team is in, yes.
Hanwha is in desperate need of a promising player who will grow into a key hitter in the future. It will be more so if the number of home runs of Byun Woo-hyuk, who was traded to KIA at the time of the 2024 draft, exceeds double digits.