▲ Seoul High School 2nd grader Kim Seo-Hyun practice and bullpen pitching video
Not long ago, a national high school baseball fever was held in Gijang-gun, Busan, and high school baseball in 2021 marked the beginning.
The most striking thing throughout the tournament was Pitcher Shim Joon-seok of Deoksu High School, who took the best '154 km/h', and pitcher Jin Seung-hyun, who led Gyeongbuk High School to the championship.
However, many other players showed off their skills, and among them, the'bloody ball' thrown by a pitcher from Seoul High School completely caught the eyes of the reporters.
The protagonist was Seohyun Kim, a 2nd grader at Seoul High School.
With a height of 188cm and weight of 82kg, Seohyun Kim is a right-handed three-quarter pitcher who reminds me of Pedro Martinez in his prime.
He was a bit skinny, but his pitching form looked flexible and full of strength.
Seoul High School coach Yoo Jeong-min said, "The ball movement is very good. And since it comes out over 150km/h, I think that if you manage it well, you can become the best pitcher in Korea."
Although he was a relief pitcher in the semi-finals with Gyeongbuk High School, he was unfortunately defeated, but the future of Seo-Hyun Kim, born in 2004, is still bright.
SBS reporters met Seohyun Kim in person and talked with them.
Q. When I see the pitching form, someone comes to mind.
I've been hearing about Pedro Martinez a lot since middle school.
However, the player I want to resemble is the late Choi Dong-won.
In the past, I looked for a game with Seon Dong-yeol in a video, but I was impressed with the appearance of pitching without giving up until the end, so I became an idol.
Q. Is there a reason you have a unique pitching form?
Originally, when I was in elementary school (Hyoje Elementary School), the eight angles were completely over thrown.
But while going to middle school (Jayang Middle School), I met with coach Ji-heon Kang.
As I looked for a comfortable form with Coach Ji-heon Kang, my arms seem to come down.
Even now, the form is more comfortable.
Q. What do you think are your strengths?
I think it's the two feelings coach Ji-heon Kang gave me when I was in middle school.
As I study only two-seam pitches, it seems that four-seam also follows the movement.
Kim Seo-hyun, who had already hit the ball in his mid-to-late 140s when he was in middle school, is in good shape by recording a maximum of 152 km/h this year.
The only concern is that I had surgery and rehabilitation for an early arm injury.
However, Seoul High School coach Yoo Jeong-min said, "When I was young, the speed came out, so it seems that there was damage to my arm."
From next year, KBO's rookie draft will be held as a full draft without the first nomination for a local connection, and Seo-Hyun Kim is being considered as one of the most prominent candidates.
With one of the competitors, Deoksu High School and Sim Joon-seok, who announced a major league challenge earlier, where is Kim Seo-hyun's mind heading?
Q. What are your goals?
I wonder if you have considered your career path after graduating from high school.
After graduating, I want to become the most impressive senior to my juniors.
I want to go to the majors, but I think I still want to do it in Korea.
(Can you tell me which team you want to go to?) I'll keep that secret.
(Laughs)
Kim Seo-hyun, who thinks about what ball to throw from the day before the game starts,
and
tries to get into the game with the idea of catching the batter somehow.
I am looking forward to seeing how much more the owner of the'post-high school class movement' can grow in the future.
(Video coverage: Kim Won-bae / AD: Kim Jeong-beom)