Confirmed for September 21... First-Round Landscape Still Shrouded in Fog

The 2027 KBO Rookie Draft will be held on September 21. The KBO is accepting draft applications from July 1 through August 22, with eligible candidates including high school and college graduates-to-be registered with the Korea Baseball Softball Association (KBSA), as well as early draft entrants. Overseas amateur and professional players, along with domestic high school and college dropouts, will undergo a tryout on September 1.

Aside from Ha Hyun-seung (Busan High), the consensus No. 1 overall pick, the first-round selection picture remains uncertain. Clubs plan to make their final decisions after thoroughly evaluating players through the Bonghwangdaegi tournament and the September Youth National Team games.

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Ha Hyun-seung Rejects New York Yankees' Offer to Stay in Korea... Kiwoom Likely to Land Him at No. 1

The No. 1 overall pick is effectively settled as Ha Hyun-seung. A tall left-handed two-way player, Ha is a five-tool prospect. As a pitcher, he features a fastball approaching 150 km/h along with a sharp slider, and as a hitter, he possesses a well-rounded combination of power, precision, and speed. He turned down a $3 million (approximately 4.35 billion KRW) offer from the New York Yankees to remain in Korea, and the Kiwoom Heroes are expected to offer him a record-breaking signing bonus.

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Doosan at No. 2 Overall: Kim Ji-woo (Seoul High) the Leading Candidate... Bolstering Left-Handed Pitching Also a Priority

Attention is also focused on the moves of the Doosan Bears, who hold the second overall pick. Kim Ji-woo of Seoul High is considered the leading candidate, though the team's need to bolster its left-handed pitching staff is also a factor. Kim rejected a $1.7 million (approximately 2.465 billion KRW) offer from an MLB club to stay in Korea. On the mound, he can reach 153 km/h with his fastball, and as a hitter, before a finger injury, he posted a .429 batting average with 2 home runs and 17 RBIs in 12 games, making him a genuine two-way talent.

Doosan currently has only two domestic left-handed relievers this season in Lee Byung-heon and Choi Ju-hyung. While they are utilizing Asian-quota left-hander Takada Takuto, bolstering the domestic left-handed pitching corps is essential in the long term.

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Left-Handed Pitchers Park Geun-seo and Lee Seung-won Also Drawing Attention... Along with MLB Interest

Left-handed pitchers Park Geun-seo of Seoul Design High School and Lee Seung-won of Yushin High School are among those drawing attention in the first round. Park, the MVP of the Hanwha Eagles Cup High School vs. College All-Star Game, brings a 150 km/h-range fastball and an intense competitive fire. Lee possesses a tall frame, a fastball in the mid-to-upper 140 km/h range, solid command, and strong game-management skills; he returned this past May following elbow surgery and is steadily regaining his form. Both players are drawing interest from MLB organizations.

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Choi Ji-man Likely to Be Selected in Mid-First Round... Viewed as an Instant-Impact Player

The destination of MLB veteran Choi Ji-man is also a major variable. Multiple club officials believe Choi could be selected as early as the middle of the first round. One scout said, "Three to four teams are actively considering Choi Ji-man, and nearly every team outside the early first-round picks is keeping him in mind."

Choi Ji-man made his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Angels in 2016 before going on to play for the New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers, and Tampa Bay Rays. In 2019, he batted .261 with 19 home runs and 63 RBIs in 127 games, and in 2020, he became the first Korean batter to appear in a World Series. His MLB career stats include a .234 batting average, 67 home runs, 238 RBIs, and a .764 OPS over 525 games. In 2024, he signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets but was released and currently plays for the Ulsan Whales in the Futures League.

Although he will be 35 in Korean age next year, making him a veteran, he is evaluated as a clear instant-impact player in the KBO League. An official from a regional club explained, "Choi Ji-man is capable of hitting in the high .200s with 20-plus home runs next year, and having a Korean player at first base would give the team more flexibility in managing foreign batter slots."

The choice between an instant-impact veteran and a long-term developmental prospect is a core dilemma for club front offices. While there are promising high school first-base prospects available, rookie position players need time to establish themselves at the major-league level. In contrast, Choi Ji-man could contribute for four to five years, and given the trend of extended position-player careers, he could be productive for even longer.

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First-Round Picture to Take Shape After September's U-18 Baseball World Cup

The final landscape of the first round is expected to take shape only after the U-18 Baseball World Cup held in Taiwan this September. One club official said, "Aside from Ha Hyun-seung, no player is a lock yet. Final decisions will be made after closely watching the results of the remaining national tournaments and national team games." Some clubs plan to have their entire scouting staff closely monitor the national team's training camps and exhibition games.