KBO tryout site where 'Stick Out Scouts' were desperate
Even in the bad weather of summer rain, the players were desperate to stand out from professional clubs.
KBO held the '2024 KBO Rookie Draft Tryout' on the team-up campus in Gonjiam-eup, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do on the 28th. A total of five players (one pitcher, one catcher, two infielders and one outfielder) participated and showed their skills in front of reporters and team scouts.
The first test the participating players took was a blow. It was conducted by hitting 30 balls thrown by each player.
You only have 30 chances. Except for Jin Woo-young, who participated as a pitcher, four players showed off their strengths by hitting long balls over the fence or making sharp hits. When a ball that he didn't like came out, the players sighed.
The tests that followed were defense and base running. Sometimes mistakes were made as they slipped on rainwater in bad rainy conditions, but the players soon tried to clean up and show careful play.
The defense test evaluated the players' ability with internal and external defense, double play, and home throw. When he received a difficult ball and made a great play, team officials expressed surprise.
The rain didn't stop even during the base run test. However, it was not possible to stop the participating players to be seen by the club's scouts. The players ran to first base to step on the base a little faster.
The last one is the pitcher test. Attention was focused on Jin Woo-young, the only pitcher participating. Jin Woo-young has only 30 balls. Jin Woo-young tried his best to show his strengths by spraying the ball.
Catcher participant Do Seung-hyun received Jin Woo-young's ball and cheered him up by shouting "Nice ball."
This tryout was conducted for overseas amateurs and professional athletes, and high school and university dropouts. Kim Dong-kyu (outfielder), Jin Woo-young (pitcher), Do Seung-hyun (catcher), Hwang Young-mook (insider), and Jang Hyun-jin (insider) participated in the test.
The five players who have completed the test are waiting for the nomination of professional clubs in the 2024 KBO League Rookie Draft on the 14th of next month.