The 2023 KBO League Rookie of the Year race is characterized by the fact that various players have emerged from the most teams in recent years. Especially on the pitcher side, as young players took their place in the first team and played an active role, the race for the rookie award naturally caught fire from the start. There are many elements that can arouse interest, including selection for the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Moon Dong-ju (Hanhwa), who was initially selected as the most promising candidate, is moving forward with a sensation as Dong-ju Moon, but at least it is not expected that it will lead to Dong-ju Moon’s solo system. Rather, it is because the scores of Lee Yong-jun (NC) and Kim Dong-ju (Doosan) do not drop compared to Moon Dong-ju and tend to lead.
In addition, players who are active as the core of each team, such as Choi Ji-min (KIA), Yoo Young-chan, Park Myeong-geun (above LG), and Song Young-jin Lee Ro-un (above SSG), are expected to compete fiercely in the future. Sophomore Choi Ji-min is currently one of the best left-handed bullpens in the league, and Park Myeong-geun, Song Young-jin and Lee Row-un, a high school graduate rookie, have already scored a lot of points by playing more than expected and playing in many games.
However, all these players are not yet experienced enough to see their performance as a constant. It is clear that many variables lie ahead. So, in the current situation, it is impossible to predict. There may be more players to come out in the future. We confirmed this trend in May as well.
It is the addition of Kim Seo-hyun (Hanwha), Yoon Young-cheol (KIA), and Kim Min-seok (Lotte), who can be said to be ‘1st, 2nd, and 3rd in all schools’ in the 2023 rookie draft. They have been accumulating grades in earnest since May and are fiercely chasing ahead runners. Lee Yong-jun, Kim Dong-joo, Moon Dong-ju, and Choi Ji-min, who are generally selected as the ‘TOP 4’ at this point, are not rookies this year, but 2-3 year players. However, they have one thing in common: they have established themselves within the team as pure rookies and started to perform well.
Kim Seo-hyun, who started the season in the 2nd group due to the team’s strategy, is gathering a lot of attention with the tremendous fastball itself after joining the 1st team. In addition to easily spraying a ball at 155 km/h, the top speed has already exceeded 160 km based on ‘Trackman’. The restraint itself has a special knack for making fans sit in front of the TV.
Sex is good here. He has a 2.25 earned run average with one save in 11 games this season. Starting from a situation where there is no burden as much as possible, it has now been promoted to a winning team that is used at important moments. There are times when his pitches falter, but they do not collapse, and his powerful pitches confine opponent batters’ batted balls to the infield. His batting average is 0.195, his WHIP is 1.00, and his strikeout/walk ratio is 4.25, all good. If only the grades are supported, the topic of being a 160km fireballer can shine more.
‘No. 2 overall’ Yoon Young-chul’s momentum is also stable. Although his debut in the first team was delayed due to team games being canceled due to rain at the beginning of the season, he is perhaps one of the few players among the nominees for the Rookie of the Year award who have been declared ‘joining the starting rotation’ before the season. A good start to the season too. In his first six games, he went 2-1 with a 3.49 earned run average. Since his first loss (April 15, Kiwoom gave up 5 runs in 3⅔ innings), his earned run average is only 2.19 in 5 games.
Unlike Kim Seo-hyun, Yoon Young-chul wins the match with the jegu and game management. He knows how to hit every corner of his fastball in the middle and late 130km range. Changes are also quite good. He still manages the number of pitches, and has the disadvantage of slightly poor inning digestibility, but this continues to improve. In terms of the starting rotation being guaranteed to some extent, there is a possibility that cumulative grades will accumulate quite a bit at the end of the season if you maintain your own grades well. It is an aspect of chasing after the senior starters who started running earlier.스포츠토토
In addition, on the fielder side, Kim Min-seok, who is ‘No. 3 overall’, suddenly jumped into the race for the Rookie of the Year. Kim Min-seok, who has been highly anticipated for his natural athletic ability, energy, and contact skills, is gradually expanding his place in Lotte’s season planning. Even in his early days, he was not mentioned in the Rookie of the Year race, but now, at least among fielders, he is in the limelight. Since several pitchers are competing, the ‘single candidate for fielder’ can also be an attractive factor.
It is Kim Min-seok who had a batting average of 0.196 and an OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 0.482 in 19 games in April. However, after getting a feel for it through experience, in the 10 games in May until the 18th, the batting average was 0.378, 1 home run, 6 RBIs, 3 stolen bases, and OPS 0.939. It is a batting performance that can threaten his existing main players. In addition, unlike a young player and a player who has just turned to the outfield, he is doing a relatively stable job in defense. He is the type of rookie who can survive for a long time in the first team.
All three players have their own position areas and attractive charms. In terms of topicality, there is no feeling that he is far behind other players. In the end, it’s important how consistently you keep up with these grades. Looking at the weight of the three players in the team, unlike the seniors in front, there is only one chance for the rookie award this year. Many fans are watching with delighted eyes at how big a blast high school graduates can create.