Who captivated NC fans at once

In the 2024 KBO rookie draft, Whimoon High School right-hander Kim Hwi-gun (18), who was nominated by NC as the fifth place in the first round, left the most impressive impact. He said, "I prepared something in advance," and poured out a 400-character message without any hesitation. Starting with the NC club, the chairman and principal of Whimoon High School, coach Oh Tae-geun of the baseball team, coach Kim Soo-hwan, coach Jaemin Kim, and coach Lee Si-chan expressed their gratitude one by one, and said they loved their parents.

And a confession of hometown followed. Kim Hwi-gun said, "I was born in Changwon, and I started playing baseball in Changwon," adding, "I developed my dream as a baseball player while watching the NC Dinos." Kim Hwi-gun said, "I came back to NC, and I will return the love given by NC Dinos 1,000 times. "I will give my right arm for the NC Dinos," he said. Team officials, including NC general manager Lim Sun-nam and scout team leader Min Dong-geun, who were watching the first nominee from the seat, applauded with a "dad smile."

It turned out to be an unexpected 'local boy'. Kim Hwi-gun graduated from Soyang Elementary School and Chuncheon Middle School in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. He entered Cheonan Bukil High School in Chungcheongnam-do and graduated from Seoul Whimoon High School. Looking at the profile, there is no connection with Changwon at all.

The story goes like this. Kim Hwi-gun's mother, Jung Yoon-sook, is from Masan, South Gyeongsang Province (currently Changwon City). At the time of childbirth, she visited Masan's biological family and gave birth to a son at a local obstetrics and gynecology clinic. Kim Hwi-gun attended Guam Elementary School in Changwon until his second year, and started playing baseball for a local little club. At that time, he developed his dream by watching NC Lee Jae-hak and Na Sung-beom, who had just entered the KBO first division. In other words, "I was born in Changwon and started playing baseball in Changwon."

Kim Hwi-gun's parents are both athletes. Her mother, Chung, played for the women's national basketball team. His father, Kim Man-seok, is also a former member of the national standing army who played basketball until college. His strong feelings about the nomination came from his parents' advice. My father said, "Starting with the team story, prepare a wonderful speech from your colleagues." Jeong said, "I've been mumbling and practicing by myself since two days ago, and I think I did better than I thought."

"I practiced until dawn, and I continued to practice in my father's car on the way to the venue," Kim Hwi-gun said with a smile. The last word, "I will dedicate my right arm to NC," came from the rehearsal in the car. Kim Hwi-gun said, "I thought it would be nice to have a stronger shot," adding, "I thought I should say that on my way to the car."

NC fans are already drunk on Kim Hwi-gun's confident speech. Jeong said, "Masan's family is already in a mess."

Kim Hwi-gun's trip to NC was unlikely earlier this year. He was selected as the "top 3" of high schools along with Jang Hyun-seok of Masan Yongma High School and Hwang Jun-seo of Jangchung High School due to his 191cm and 105kg physique and excellent ball power. Many predicted that it would fall to the NC nomination ranking. However, Kim Hwi-gun was weaker than expected on this year's high school baseball stage due to poor control, and eventually received the fifth-ranked nomination. Jang Hyun-seok signed with the LA Dodgers, and Hwang Joon-seo was named the first overall pick.

Kim Hwi-gun said, "There were people who originally talked about it as a rival with (Jang) Hyun-seok, but I'm sorry for my performance this year," but laughed, "I think I've slowed down a little this year to come to NC." When asked to say something to Changwon fans, he said, "I'm going back to Changwon. We're in Changwon. "I will be the best player in NC and continue to lead the Dinos to victory," he said.

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