It’s the Boys’ Game: The Midsummer Baseball Festival

Who will be the protagonist of the ‘strongest baseball’?

The 57th President’s Cup National High School Baseball Tournament (organized by the Korea Baseball and Softball Association) kicks off today at Mokdong Stadium and Shinwol Baseball Park in Seoul. The tournament, which began on April 25, 1967, at Dongdaemun Stadium, has been running for more than half a century and has become a symbol of high school baseball with a long history and tradition. Over the years, it has produced a number of stars, including the late Im Sang-geun, Park No-jun, Sun Dong-yeol, Kim Dong-soo, Park Yong-taek, Choo Shin-soo, and Kang Baek-ho.

This year’s President’s Cup will feature the future leaders of high school baseball. In particular, Masan Yongmago right-handed pitcher Jang Hyun-seok and Jang Chung-go left-handed pitcher Hwang Jun-seo are considered the biggest names.

Standing at 1.90 meters tall and weighing 90 kilograms, Jang Hyun-seok is an ultra-high school ace who throws a fastball that reaches a maximum speed of 157 kilometers per hour. He was selected for the national team in June ahead of the Hangzhou Asian Games in September, and he combines a reliable fastball with a big breaking curve and a sharp slider. KBO and Major League Baseball scouts are taking notice.

Hwang Jun-seo is no slouch either. At 1.87 meters tall and 80 kilograms, Hwang has a variety of pitches, including a curveball, slider, and splitter, as well as the ability to run a seasoned game. 안전놀이터

Jo Dae-hyun, a junior at Gangneung High School, and Jeon Mi-rho, a junior at Gyeongbuk High School, are also waiting in the wings. Another standout is Whimun High outfielder Lee Seung-min, the son of Samsung Lions head coach Lee Byung-kyu. Deoksugo outfielder Baek Jun-seo, Se AD infielder Park Ji-hwan, Gyeonggi catcher Lee Sang-joon, and Incheon right-handed pitcher Kim Taek-yeon are other notable names.

An official from the Korea Baseball Softball Association said, “Only schools that finished within the top three or four in each region through fierce competition participated in the tournament. We are expecting a high level of competition from the beginning of the tournament.”