Ha Hyeon-seung poised for top KBO draft pick following MLB offer rejection

Ha Hyeon-seung, a standout player from Busan High School, is expected to be the top pick in the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft by the Kiwoom Heroes. Ha recently led the South Korean U-18 national team to victory in the Asian Youth Baseball Championship, earning MVP honors after a dominant performance against Japan.

Ha has gained significant attention for declining a $3 million offer from the New York Yankees to pursue a professional career in the KBO first. This decision has led to speculation that he may break the 20-year record for the highest rookie signing bonus in KBO history, which currently stands at 1 billion won.

Known for his dual-threat capabilities as both a pitcher and a hitter, Ha aims to develop his pitching to reach 160 km/h and master new breaking balls like the sinker. Kiwoom Heroes manager Seol Jong-jin expressed interest in potentially developing Ha as a two-way player, similar to Shohei Ohtani, noting that providing such opportunities could benefit the growth of professional baseball.