Incheon High School pitcher Kim Taek-yeon, who was selected with the second overall pick in the 2024 KBO Rookie Draft by the Doosan Bears, will take the mound at the upcoming National Championships in October.

Doosan selected Kim in the first round of the 2024 KBO First-Year Player Draft on Sept. 14 at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Sogong, Seoul.

Doosan had been monitoring Kim since the spring of this year and had been projecting him as a potential first-round pick. Even if Jang Hyun-seok (LA Dodgers) was still available, the team planned to select Kim rather than Jang Chung-go pitcher Hwang Jun-seo. However, with Jang Hyun-seok’s decision to play in the U.S. major leagues, the club was happy to have the option of not having to think about it.

“It was a toss-up between Jang Hyun-seok and Kim Taek-yeon, but if it was Hwang Joon-seo and Kim Taek-yeon, we were going to pick Kim Taek-yeon first. If you look at his rotation and vertical movement data, it was in the top tier of professional pitchers. We’ll have to decide his future position on the field, but I think he’s more of a closer than a starter. It is expected that he can grow in the same style as KT’s Park Young-hyun.”

Doosan gave Kim a heartfelt welcome, even preparing a special jersey with his name on it.

“As soon as I put on the Doosan jersey for the first time, I felt like I fit right in, and it felt good to have everyone around me say that. I didn’t expect them to put my name on the jersey, but I was impressed. I’m confident in any position, whether it’s starting or finishing. I will do my best to meet the club’s expectations in the future,” she smiled.

When it comes to role models, Kim said that she will now try harder to be a role model for amateur players rather than a specific senior.

“I’ve been talking about role models because I’m an amateur player. Now that I’m a professional athlete myself, I’ve changed my mindset to try harder to be a role model for amateur athletes. I want to be the first Kim Taeyeon, not the second,” she said, raising her voice.

With Kim Taeyeon in their arms, Doosan now needs to focus on management mode. At the recent World Youth Baseball Championship, Kim faced a controversy over his ‘five-game batting streak’.

“When I went to the youth national team, he managed me well from the bench. I didn’t feel too much pressure when I threw, so I just focused on doing my job. I tried to throw harder because I was representing Korea. It was a memorable and happy moment to come back with a bronze medal. After returning home, I had a good rest at home and recovered my body.” 먹튀검증

In addition to the controversy over the abuse of the youth national team, there is also the question of whether Kim will be able to pitch at the national championships in October. This is because Incheon High School, where Kim Taek-yeon plays, will represent Incheon in the national baseball tournament. Doosan is also eagerly anticipating the possibility of a national team appearance.

A Doosan official at the rookie draft said, “If Kim Taek-yeon makes it to the mound at the national championship, there could be more pressure. Of course, it’s a national tournament, so it’s important for him to represent the city. However, we plan to discuss it with the school.” Incheon University is also reportedly interested in managing Kim Taeyeon. It will be interesting to see if Kim will be able to prepare for his debut season with Doosan next year under a strict management mode without appearing at the national championships in October.