KT wiz completes 2027 rookie signings; Lee Seung-won gets 250 million won
In short
KT wiz said on Oct. 6 that it finished signing all 11 players it took in the 2027 rookie draft, held on Sept. 21. First-round pick Lee Seung-won, a left-handed pitcher taken fifth overall, signed for a 250 million won bonus. Yonhap reported that second-round pick Choi Ji-man, a former major leaguer, signed without a signing bonus under KBO rules on players who move overseas.
Read the full story 1 min read
KT wiz said on Oct. 6 that it had completed entry contracts with all 11 players it selected in the 2027 rookie draft, the team's announcement reported by Chosun Ilbo, Newsis and Yonhap. Chosun Ilbo said the draft was held on Sept. 21. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The largest bonus went to first-round pick Lee Seung-won, a left-handed pitcher taken fifth overall, who signed for 250 million won, according to all three outlets. The outlets differ on his school: Chosun Ilbo's headline calls him a Chungam High left-hander, while its summary and Yonhap describe him as a Yushin High pitcher. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Yonhap also reported figures for other picks: third-round pitcher Kim Ji-yul of Chungam High at 100 million won, fourth-round Masan Yongma High infielder Choi Min-sang at 80 million won, and fifth-round Gongju High infielder Kim Dong-young at 70 million won. [ 3 ]
Yonhap said former major leaguer Choi Ji-man, chosen in the second round with the 15th overall pick, signed without a signing bonus, in line with the Korea Baseball Organization's rules on players who have moved to overseas leagues. The other documents do not mention him. [ 3 ]
Chosun Ilbo described KT as the regular-season champion in its headline on the signings. Newsis's headline reported the same completed contracts and Lee Seung-won's bonus, while the article text carried with it concerned an unrelated matter. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
The announcement closes out KT wiz's 2027 rookie class, locking in the terms for the team's newest players. Beyond the contract figures and the note that KT was the regular-season champion, the documents give no further indication of what the signings mean for the club or the league.
Key facts
- KT wiz said it completed entry contracts with all 11 players it selected in the 2027 rookie draft. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- KT drafted its 11 players in the 2027 rookie draft held on Sept. 21, according to Chosun Ilbo. [ 1 ]
- Left-handed pitcher Lee Seung-won, taken in the first round with the fifth overall pick, signed for a 250 million won bonus. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Third-round pick Kim Ji-yul, a pitcher from Chungam High, signed for 100 million won, and fourth-round pick Choi Min-sang, an infielder from Masan Yongma High, signed for 80 million won. [ 3 ]
- Fifth-round pick Kim Dong-young, an infielder from Gongju High, signed for 70 million won. [ 3 ]
- Former major leaguer Choi Ji-man, taken in the second round with the 15th overall pick, signed without a signing bonus under KBO rules on players who go overseas. [ 3 ]
- Chosun Ilbo described KT as the regular-season champion in its headline on the signings. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Which high school first-round pick Lee Seung-won attended Chosun Ilbo's headline calls Lee a Chungam High left-hander, while its own summary and Yonhap say he is from Yushin High; Yonhap lists Chungam High pitcher Kim Ji-yul as a separate third-round pick.
- The contract terms for most of the 11 rookies Only Yonhap gives figures, and only for four players; the documents do not state terms for the rest of the class.
- Whether Choi Ji-man's zero signing bonus is confirmed elsewhere Only Yonhap reports the detail; the other documents do not mention him.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Chosun Ilbo reports KT's official announcement that it signed all 11 players from the 2027 rookie draft, with first-round pick Lee Seung-won at 250 million won; it notes the draft was held on Sept. 21. [ 1 ]
- Newsis reports KT completed contracts with its 11 rookies, with first-rounder Lee Seung-won signing for 250 million won. [ 2 ]
- Yonhap reports the signings and gives contract figures for Lee Seung-won, Kim Ji-yul, Choi Min-sang and Kim Dong-young, and says Choi Ji-man signed without a bonus. [ 3 ]