2022 Rookie 1st nomination war from Gwangju

It's still 'in progress'.

The 2022 KBO rookie draft is still considered "all-time" among the rookie nominations made in recent years. With the first nomination system maintained last, the first nominations of KT Wiz Park Young-hyun, Doosan Bears Lee Byung-hun, and Samsung Lions Lee Jae-hyun are currently playing as the main players in each team's first team.

However, out of the 10 rookies in the first nomination at the time, the two who started the "first nomination war from Gwangju" are definitely the ones who created the "first nomination war." This is the story of Moon Dong-joo of the Hanwha Eagles and Kim Do-young of the KIA Tigers.

Moon Dong-joo, a graduate of Jinheung High School, and Kim Do-young, a graduate of Dongseong High School in Gwangju, are two top prospects who have been in rivalry throughout their high school years. KIA, a team affiliated with Gwangju, was mired in "happy agony" as only one of them could be named first, but Kim Do-young was chosen after much consideration. Moon was chosen by Hanwha, which had the right to name players nationwide.

At that time, the two's primary nomination attracted great attention from fans as well. Among pitcher Moon Dong-joo who throws fast balls over 155 kilometers per hour and Kim Do-young who has accuracy as well as slugging power, controversy arose over who would blossom his talent faster.

The first player to take the initiative was Moon. Both of them played in the primary league from their debut season in 2022, but failed to show their potential. However, the 2023 season has changed dramatically. Moon, who joined the starting lineup, pitched in 23 games and recorded eight wins and eight losses with an ERA of 3.72. He also won the Rookie of the Year award in 2023.

In the 2023 season, Kim only played 84 games, fewer than in the 2022 season (103 games) due to injury. His batting average was 0.303, but he could not erase the question mark over his durability.

The 2024 season is in its third year as a professional baseball player. Surprisingly, the rivalry between the two is finding tight balance again. Kim has overcome sluggishness right after the opening of the season and started to display her full potential by vertically increasing precision and slugging capability. Kim hit as many as four home runs in the recent three games until the game against the Incheon SSG Landers on Thursday. He has been leading Kia's early lead in this season by posting a batting average of 0.302, seven home runs, 17 RBIs and a slugging percentage of 0.593 in 20 games so far.

With Kim Do-young gaining momentum with fear, Moon Dong-ju is also doing his part faithfully. He showed ups and downs due to anxiety over control right after the opening, but he pitched well against the NC Dinos in Changwon on the 16th, his most recent start, with a maximum speed of 158 kilometers and three runs (one earned run) in 5.1 innings.

They are Moon Dong-ju and Kim Do-young, who are continuing their competition in good faith by showing strong performances side by side. While it is impossible to determine whose superiority it is, the end of the 'first nomination war from Gwangju' is still unknown. The interesting pitching rival structure is still in progress.

BY: 메이저사이트