Jangchung High School ace Hwang Jun-seo (18), who along with Jang Hyun-seok (19-Masan Yongmago) is currently classified as one of the top two pitchers in high school baseball, is seriously considering entering the KBO and challenging himself in the United States.
Hwang Jun-seo took the mound as the third pitcher in his team’s game against Masan Yongmago in the quarterfinals of the 78th Cheongnyonggi National Baseball Championship and Weekend League Wangjungwang at Mokdong Stadium in Seoul on Thursday.
Hwang Jun-seo entered the game in the eighth inning with runners on first and third with his team leading 3-0 and gave up two runs, but was not credited with an earned run as he inherited a runner from the previous pitcher.
Hwang closed out the game without allowing another run and earned the save. Two innings, one hit, two walks and one strikeout.
Compared to his rival, Jang Hyun-seok, who threw 102 pitches in 6⅔ innings and struck out 14 batters, Hwang’s performance was somewhat subdued, but he was the eventual winner.
“I warmed up in the third inning, and I think that’s why I lost my strength on the mound. I wasn’t 100%, so I’m not happy with my pitches. My changeup didn’t go in properly,” he admitted.
“I’m still happy with the win,” he said, adding, “My teammates are pitching better than me this year. I think I need to trust my teammates instead of thinking I should.”
As for Jang Hyun-seok, who threw a ‘monster pitch’ on the day, he said, “It’s an honor to play with the best player in high school baseball right now. I learned a lot from him.” “It’s great that he threw over 100 pitches with a fastball. If we meet again in the presidential boat in August, I want to throw better than today.”
Jang Hyun-seok (right) and Hwang Jun-seo pose with the media after the quarterfinals of the Cheongnyonggi on Thursday.
There is a serious joke in the baseball world that ‘left-handed fireballers are brought from hell’. This also applies to Hwang Jun-seo, a ‘150km lefty’. He has been attracting the attention of domestic scouts with his consistency, especially with his fastball.
With Jang Hyun-seok, who was selected to the Hangzhou Asian Games team, considering a move to Major League Baseball (MLB), it is widely expected that Hwang Jun-seo will be the first overall pick in the 2024 KBO Draft.
Both the Hanwha Eagles, who hold the first overall pick, and the Doosan Bears, who hold the second overall pick, are interested in Hwang Jun-seo, so much so that fans are already calling him “Han Jun-seo” or “Doo Jun-seo”.
However, Hwang Jun-seo is aware of the overseas scouts that have come to watch the Cheongryonggi, and he says that he has his sights set on going overseas.
When asked if he had any ambitions to go overseas, Hwang Jun-seo said, “I do. Wouldn’t it be great if a big organization called me?” He said, “I’m considering both (domestic and overseas) possibilities.
“I will think about it a lot before the draft deadline (Aug. 15),” he added.
Following Jang, Hwang Jun-seo has also expressed his desire to go overseas, making it possible that the No. 1 and No. 2 pitchers in high school baseball will both go overseas.
Their worries are likely to continue until the 57th Presidential High School Baseball Tournament, which will be held from August 1 to 12. 한국야동 As a result, the competition for the top draft picks among domestic scouts is expected to intensify.