“I nominate SSG Landers, Gongju, Yeo Yeo-dae, and catcher Kim Gyu-min.”

Hanwha Eagles pitcher Kim Kyu-yeon, who was on the field at the KBO 2024 First-Year Player Draft on Thursday, jumped up at the name of the 100th player to be called. Kim Gyu-min is the twin brother of Kim Gyu-yeon, who was born on August 23, 2002, two minutes before Kim Gyu-yeon.

Three years ago, in the 2021 rookie draft held in 2020, Gongju and Kim were selected by Hanwha in the eighth round, 72nd overall. However, she was unable to fully show her joy in front of her brother, who was not selected. Gong Ju-ju was the only one to be called out that day.

“At the time, I was watching with my classmates in my high school dorm. It was good, but it was also disappointing. It was 50/50. I think my parents felt the same way. I was a little upset that (Kim Gyu-min) wasn’t called,” she said.

The siblings went their separate ways for the first time. Kim Gyu-yeon put on a professional uniform, and Kim Gyu-min went to college. But playing baseball was the same. By 2023, Kim Gyu-yeon had grown into a first-team mound player, and Kim Gyu-min had earned his spot in the professional ranks.

On the 14th, a day without a game for Hanwha, Kim finished training and watched the draft live. “I watched it nervously in the locker room. “I was nervously watching it in the locker room, thinking that it would be difficult because there were a lot of catchers in front of me, but it was really nice to be selected. I woke up and said, ‘Whew!'” she laughs.안전놀이터

During that time, Kim’s family was at home watching the draft. “I knew she was going to be crying, so I called her on purpose,” Kim says. “I told them it was hard, but my mom and dad kept crying, so I called them back and said something and told them to congratulate my brother,” he said.

Kim Kyu-yeon is proud of her older brother, Kim Gyu-min, who she describes as “a player with good shoulders and a good body.” “He hasn’t gotten sick much since he was a kid, but he doesn’t show it. I don’t know because we don’t play baseball together anymore, but I was reticent,” she said, adding, “I think he’ll do well.”

Two minutes younger, but already a professional. When I asked Kim if he had any advice for his brother, he said, “Just say hello, be polite, and you’re halfway there.” “There are some people at Landers that I know from high school. I told them to keep an eye out for me, and to tell me if they need to talk to me,” he laughed.

He even imagined going head-to-head as a pitcher and hitter in the first team. “I’d win,” Kim says quickly. “We didn’t talk about it, but I’d win, I’d win, I’d give him a fastball first, and then I’d make it difficult.” Kim smiles broadly, looking forward to the day that will come.