KBO Rookie Draft: Kiwoom Heroes select Ha Hyun-seung first overall

The 2027 KBO Rookie Draft was held on September 21 at the Lotte Hotel World in Seoul, selecting 110 players from a pool of 1,280 participants.

Kiwoom Heroes utilized the first overall pick to select Ha Hyun-seung, a highly touted pitcher who recently led South Korea to victory in the U-18 Asian Baseball Championship. Ha notably declined a $3 million offer from the New York Yankees to participate in the draft. Doosan Bears selected infielder Kim Ji-woo with the second pick, followed by KIA Tigers selecting infielder Lee Ho-min with the third overall pick.

Lee Ho-min, a standout from Gyeongnam High School, is regarded as a powerful hitter with significant potential, earning him comparisons to former professional player Lee Dae-ho. KIA's selection of an infielder is viewed as a strategic move to support the long-term development of Kim Do-young, who is expected to transition to shortstop.

Other notable selections included Choi Ji-man, who joined the KT Wiz in the second round. The draft saw a high concentration of pitchers, with 62 pitchers selected out of the total 110 players.