The impressive performance of rookie pitchers was notable at the opening game of the 2025 professional baseball spring training. KT manager Lee Kang-chul praised Kiwoom's Jeong Hyun-woo and Samsung's Bae Chan-seung, saying, "They were like veterans."

Manager Lee Kang-chul mentioned the previous day's game while preparing for a spring training match against LG on the 9th at Suwon KT Wiz Park and praised rookie pitchers from other teams.

Regarding the ABS zone, which had its height adjusted slightly and its width slightly modified, the manager said, "I don't know yet after just one game, but Bae Chan-seung and others with a big angle on their breaking balls are clearly at an advantage. When the catcher received the ball, it consistently hit the edge of the (ABS zone)."

He added, "Bae Chan-seung and Jeong Hyun-woo are not just professional rookies, they are totally like veterans. They were stable; Jeong Hyun-woo is the first one."

Jeong Hyun-woo joined Kiwoom as the overall first pick in the 2025 rookie draft. Bae Chan-seung was the third pick in the first round. Left-handed pitcher Jeong Hyun-woo started as the pitcher in the opening game against NC held at Changwon NC Park on the 8th, pitching three innings with four strikeouts, two walks, and no runs.

Bae Chan-seung entered the game in the sixth inning of a spring match against SSG at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 8th, when his team was trailing 1-5. He pitched one inning with one hit allowed, two strikeouts, and no runs, recording a top velocity of 153 km/h on his fastball.

KT selected pitcher Kim Dong-hyun with the ninth pick in the first round. Kim Dong-hyun recorded one inning with one strikeout and no hits allowed against LG in the previous day's spring training game. His impressive pitching included a top velocity of 150 km/h on his fastball and forkball, thanks to his height of 193 cm.

When asked if Kim Dong-hyun is also good, the manager said, "Of course. In the future, we can’t know what will happen. Someone once said that there is an order when coming in, but no order when going out," he said with a laugh.

Meanwhile, Hanwha's rookie Jeong Woo-joo, selected second overall in the first round, entered as a relief pitcher in a spring game against Doosan at the Cheongju Stadium, recording one inning with one hit allowed, two strikeouts, and no runs. LG's rookie pitcher Kim Young-woo, selected tenth overall in the first round, pitched in the 9th inning against KT, recording one inning with one walk, one strikeout, and no runs.

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