“Gyeongju.”

Through a trade with Samsung on the 27th, Kiwoom recruited veteran infielder Lee Won-seok and gave up veteran bullpen Kim Tae-hoon. Here, Samsung’s 2024 rookie draft brought the 3rd round nomination right. It is natural for Kiwoom, who has gone all-in this year, to reinforce the corner infield. Kiwoom has no clear first baseman after Park Byung-ho (KT) resigned. Third base also saw Song Seong-moon as a full-time starter last year, but looking at it calmly, a long run is not guaranteed.

The real point of this trade is the 3rd round rookie nomination that Kiwoom received from Samsung. Kiwoom also needed Lee Won-seok, but it turned out that Samsung, whose bullpen had virtually collapsed, moved first. On the 18th and 20th, in the three-game match against Gocheok, the working staff of the two teams coordinated the trade and virtually agreed, and Samsung wanted Kim Tae-hoon.

Lee Won-seok was needed, but Kiwoom, who was in no hurry, eventually collected another new nomination right. Kiwoom received the second round pick while giving away catcher Joo Hyo-sang to KIA last fall. In other words, Kiwoom is picking two players each in the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the 2024 rookie draft to be held in the second half of the year. At the same time, KIA and Samsung lose a card for the future.

The value of rounds 2-3 is quite high. Since the first nomination was abolished, the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the rookie draft should be regarded as the 1st and 2nd rounds of the previous year. Moreover, Koh Hyung-wook, general manager of Kiwoom, has judged that the level of the top nominees in the 2024 draft is a little higher than in 2023. As a veteran scout, his ability to pick players is excellent.

In fact, general manager Ko Hyeong-wook recruited left-handed prospect Lee Seung-ho, who is rehabilitating after elbow surgery, while giving away Kim Se-hyun to the KIA at the time in 2017. Although Lee Seung-ho has been in a slump for the past 1-2 years, he is still 24 years old and is not a card to give up. In the end, after his comeback as general manager at the end of January 2021, he made four trades to receive the nomination right.

General manager Ko Hyeong-wook signed a contract with veteran right-handed pitcher Kim Sang-soo for 2+1 years at 1.55 billion won in the 2020-2021 FA market, and then sent it to SSG immediately. At this time, he received 300 million won in cash from SSG and the right to pick in the 4th round of the 2022 rookie draft. The player nominated at the time was right-hander Roh Un-hyeon (20). It hasn’t blown yet, but it’s still a scratchable lottery ticket.

In addition, receiving Park Dong-won from KIA in April 2022 and receiving Kim Tae-jin and the 2023 rookie draft 2nd round nomination right and 1 billion won in cash is considered an all-time deal. Kim Tae-jin is currently Kiwoom’s main multiplayer, and new catcher Kim Dong-heon, who was selected for the second round nomination, is currently Lee Ji-young’s backup. It is as large as 1 group. On the other hand, Park Dong-won has become a heartbreaking existence for KIA. 크크크벳

Director Hyung-wook Koh’s eyes are already on the 2024 rookie draft. Koh, who received a phone call on the 27th, was not at Gocheok for a home game against KT. Koh said it was Pohang. Anyway, it seems that Lee Won-seok did not watch the first game of Kiwoom on the field. Come to think of it, even when signing with free agent Jeong Chan-heon during the demonstration game, general manager Koh said it was a race.

He personally travels across the country to check high school and college prospects. Director Koh said, “The high school seniors who will come out this year are better than last year. It is good overall regardless of pitcher or fielder.” The pool is better than last year, but we have two more top picks than any other team. Since Kiwoom is famous for selecting rookies well, I think we can expect a second Kim Dong-heon or more.

Perhaps Kiwoom may realize the best scenario, catching both the present and the future, which is difficult. Lee Hyung-jong, Won Jong-hyun, and Lee Won-seok filled up their experience and are preparing for the Korean Series victory in Lee Jung-hoo’s goodbye season. Currently, Kiwoom is in the middle rank, but it is evaluated that it has the potential to rise to the top. What if the future is bright in this situation? Excessive optimism is prohibited, but Kiwoom fans may want to look forward to it.

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