Jangchung High School left-hander Hwang Jun-seo went first overall at the annual amateur draft for the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) on Thursday.
With their No. 1 pick, the Hanwha Eagles selected the 18-year-old pitcher out of the Seoul-based school.
In 15 appearances this year, Hwang went 6-2 with a 2.16 ERA in 49 2/3 innings. He struck out 58 and walked 16.
Over his three years in high school, Hwang has compiled a 9-4 record with a 1.93 ERA in 112 1/3 innings. He recorded 132 strikeouts against 34 walks.
"Our scouts have been really high on Hwang Jun-seo throughout the year," Eagles general manager Son Hyuk said. "He is the type of pitcher that every team wants."
The competition for the first overall pick became wide open last month after Masan Yongma High School right-hander Jang Hyun-seok, considered the consensus No. 1 pick, decided to skip the KBO draft so he could sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Hanwha Eagles had the first overall pick after finishing in last place in 2022. The draft order was determined by the reverse order of finish last season.
The Doosan Bears, picking second, chose Incheon High School right-hander Kim Taek-yeon.
In 13 appearances this year, Kim pitched to a 7-1 record and a 1.13 ERA in 64 1/3 innings. He struck out 97 and walked nine batters.
Over his three years in high school, Kim went 11-2 with a 1.34 ERA in 120 2/3 innings. He recorded 173 strikeouts against 26 walks.
Both Hwang and Kim helped South Korea win bronze at the World Baseball Softball Confederation U-18 Baseball World Cup in Chinese Taipei earlier this month.
Kim pitched a complete game shutout against the United States in the bronze medal game Sunday.
It was Kim's sixth appearance of the tournament. He allowed only two earned runs in 16 innings for a 0.88 ERA, while striking out 29 and walking only four. Kim was a perfect 2-0.
Hwang went 1-2 with a 3.97 ERA in 12 1/3 innings over three outings. He struck out 15 and walked three.
Source: Yonhap News Agency