KIA Tigers selected a total of 11 players, including Kim Tae-hyung (Deoksu, pitcher) in the first round of the “2025 KBO Rookie Draft” held at Lotte Hotel World Crystal Ballroom in Seoul at 2 p.m. on the 11th.
With a physique measuring 186 centimeters and weighing 91 kilograms, Kim is considered instantly powerful as he can use powerful fastballs up to 151 kilometers per hour, sliders, curves, and various breaking balls. Having recorded nine no-hitter innings in the weekend league last year, Kim is expected to play a key role in the starting rotation if he receives systematic guidance from professionals. 스포츠토토
In the second round, Lee Ho-min (former high school pitcher) was named. With physical conditions measuring 184 centimeters and weighing 85 kilograms, Lee is a right-handed pitcher with excellent ball control and game management capabilities. Notably, he is said to have good change-ups and has outstanding strikeout capabilities.
In the third round, Park Jae-hyun (outfielder from Incheon High School) was picked. With physical conditions measuring 178 centimeters and weighing 75 kilograms, Park Jae-hyun is an outfielder and leadoff player at this year’s U-18 Asian Youth Baseball Championship, as he boasts excellent contact skills and fast feet.
Yang Soo-ho, who was nominated in the fourth round, is 187 centimeters tall and weighs 85 kilograms, and is expected to play as a “right-handed fire bowler” due to his fastballs and movements of the balls over 150 kilometers per hour.
Kim Jung-yeop (Busan High School pitcher) of the fifth round is a right-handed pitcher who measures 186 centimeters, weighs 92 kilograms, and is expected to play an active role as an intermediate pitcher.
Choi Geon-hee, a sixth-round right-handed pitcher with a physique of 185 centimeters and 78 kilograms, is a military-piloted right-hander. His main weapon is fastball and change-up throwing regardless of right and left hitters, and he is expected to be able to use it immediately as a bullpen pitcher.
Kia has also named a total of 11 players including Na Yeon-woo (Hwimungo, pitcher) in round 7, Im Da-on (game commercial high school, pitcher) in round 8, Um Jun-hyun (junior high school, infielder), Lee Sung-won (Yoo Shin-go, pitcher) in round 10, and Park Heon (Gwangju Jeil high school, outfielder) in round 11.
Right-hander Na Yeon-woo is a pitcher who is likely to grow based on his outstanding pitching, while right-hander Im Da-on is said to have good control and game management ability. Infielder Um Jun-hyun is considered an infield utility resource with excellent athletic ability and also has long-shot power.
Lee Sung-won is a right-handed pitcher with an advantage of fast balls and high-angle breaking balls, and Park Heon is a player with high growth potential with excellent athletic ability.
Kwon Yoon-min, head of the KIA Tigers’ management team, said, “We mainly nominated right-handed pitchers, and evenly nominated types with excellent physical conditions and fast ball throwing and game management ability,” adding, “The fielder will be of great help to the future power by nominating players who showed strength in their main and defense.”