Jang Chung-go left-handed pitcher Hwang Jun-seo, 18, is one of the biggest names in high school. As early as his sophomore year, he was named to the Korean Under-18 national team. This year, as a junior, he has shown even more maturity and is looking forward to an even brighter future.
“It’s an all-star game, but I want to win,” he said before the inaugural Hanwha Eagles Bar High School-College All-Star Game at the Daejeon Hanwha Life Eagles Park on June 6. I’m going to try my best,” he said, hiding his excitement.
Hwang is expected to be a top-round pick in the 2024 draft. He will compete with Masan Yongmago right-handed pitcher Jang Hyun-seok, who throws up to 157 kilometers per hour, for the No. 1 overall pick. “I often think to myself, ‘Can I compare to Jang Hyun-seok?’ That makes me work harder,” he said, revealing his competitive spirit.
Hwang Jun-seo is 185 centimeters tall and weighs 80 kilograms, and his fastball reaches a maximum speed of 150 kilometers 토토사이트. In the past year, he has been working on strength training and has gained a more solid lower body. He’s also greedy for redemption. “They told me to aim high,” he says. I want to keep increasing my fastball and throw it up to 155 kilometers,” he said.
Hwang is likely to compete internationally again this year as a member of the U-18 youth national team. As a sophomore, he watched the draft with his seniors in a dormitory, and this time around, he’s expected to be on the edge of his seat.
“Last year, I watched the draft with my older brothers, including Kim Min-seok (Lotte Giants), Kim Jung-min (SSG Landers), Jung Jun-young (KT Wiz), and Park Han-geup (NC Dinos). I’m glad they all went to the pros. I used to imagine myself being drafted too, but this time I think it’s actually going to happen,” he laughs.
Jang Chung-go is a strong favorite to win this year. However, at the 2nd Shinsegae E-Mart Vessel, they lost to Gangneung Go and were eliminated in the quarterfinals, and at the 77th Golden Lion, they were knocked out by Yulgok Go in the first round. Hwang Jun-seo said, “I felt so empty. I want to do my best to win the next tournament,” he said.