Father Sita, wearing special uniforms, secured the highest contract in 10 years, saving the next closer from being the No. 1 overall pick.
We did everything we could. The Doosan Bears’ treatment of their first-round rookie was more than just the No. 1 overall pick.
Doosan selected right-handed pitcher Kim Taek-yeon from Incheon High School in the first round of the 2024 KBO Draft on March 14.
Doosan, which finished ninth last year, went with Kim early. Even with Jang Hyun-seok (Masan Yongmago)’s future in the major leagues uncertain, Doosan was weighing Hwang Jun-seo (Jang Chung-go) and Kim Taek-yeon.
Kim has appeared in 13 games this year, pitching 64⅓ innings with a 7-1 record and a 1.13 ERA. He had a fastball with a spin rate that ranked among the top in the pros, and he also had a good changeup.
Doosan general manager Kim Tae-ryong said shortly after the selection, “We expect him to grow into a stopper (closer) in two to three years at the earliest.”
Doosan, who had the No. 2 pick for the first time in 19 years since 2003, set out to develop the rookie. While the No. 1 overall pick went to Hwang Jun-seo, Doosan gave Kim an almost as big a treat as the No. 1 overall pick.
The gift came from the chairman of the nomination meeting. He gave her a jersey with the year of her selection, 2024, on the back and her name on it. Doosan said, “I think they wanted Kim so much. It was the first time in a long time that we were able to organize an event like this,” Doosan said.
For the rookie ceremony, family members were invited. Kim took the mound and her father batted. “It’s a memory I’ll never forget,” Kim said, expressing her gratitude.
The final down payment was even more dramatic.
In most cases, players would sign for less than the previous round. Hanwha, who selected Hwang Jun-seo, 먹튀검증토토사이트 offered a down payment of 350 million won. The third-ranked right-handed pitcher and batter, Jeon Mir, received 300 million won from Samsung.
While the customary signing bonus is usually between 350 million won and 300 million won, Doosan offered the same amount to Kim Taek-yeon as Hwang Jun-seo.
This is the first time in the past decade that the No. 1 and No. 2 players in the draft have received the same amount of money or more.
Doosan’s previous highest rookie contract was stamped at 600 million won for Kim Myung-jeo, who was selected in the 2005 draft. Lee Young-ha in 2016 and Kim Dae-woo in 2019 received 350 million won, and Kwak Bin in 2020 signed for 300 million won.
A Doosan official said, “Lee Young-ha and Kim Dae-woon, who are also winners of the Choi Dong-won Award, received 350 million won. There was a judgment that they were national ball players, and we didn’t think Kim Taek-yeon was any less than Hwang Jun-seo.”
Meanwhile, Doosan completed its rookie contracts with the exception of 11th-round pick Ahn Chi-ho (Se-ad), who chose to go to college.
Second-round pick Yeo Dong-gun (Seoul High) signed for 150 million won, while third-rounder Lim Jong-sung (Gyeongbuk High-Infielder) signed for 100 million won. In addition, fourth-rounder Kang Tae-wan (Daegu Sangwon High School, outfielder) signed for 80 million won, fifth-rounder Park Ji-ho (Donggang University, pitcher) and sixth-rounder Jeon Da-min (Gangneung Youngdong University, outfielder) signed for 60 million won, and seventh-rounder Kim Mubin (Shinil High School, pitcher) signed for 50 million won.
Son Yul-ki (Masan Yongmago, outfielder), Kim Tae-wan (Sunlin Internet High School, pitcher), and Ryu Hyun-jun (Jang Chung High School, catcher), who were drafted in the eighth through tenth rounds, each received a contract worth 30 million won.