Monsters Are Rising, Scouts Are Getting Busy... 2026 Elite High School Baseball Tournament Opens on March 1

[The Financial News] The 2026 Elite High School Baseball Tournament, which has firmly established itself as a launchpad for future stars, will open in spectacular fashion on March 1.
Co-hosted by the Lotte Giants, The Financial News, Busan Financial News, and the Busan Metropolitan City Softball Association, this tournament serves as the first stage to gauge how this season’s high school baseball landscape might unfold.
The lineup of participating teams this year is more stacked than ever. Many of last season’s top-performing schools are in the field, heightening expectations among baseball fans. In particular, this event has proven itself as a premier showcase, having produced 9 of 10 first-round picks two years ago and 7 more last year. Attention is now focused on which player will break out at the first major tournament of the new season.

The biggest storyline centers on the performances of the so-called “Big Three” elite high school talents: Ha Hyeonseung, Kim Ji-woo, and Eom Jun-sang.
Currently viewed as the Korean player closest to reaching MLB, Busan High School’s Ha Hyeonseung is a 194 cm tall left-handed pitcher and outfielder, making him one of the most advanced two-way prospects in modern baseball. At the Korean National Sports Festival last year, he lit up radar guns with a fastball topping out at 152 km/h, exciting scouts and officials. Since then, he has focused on refining his pitching balance and building his body. While he personally prefers to pitch, American scouts and other evaluators rate his upside as a hitter even higher. With the Kiwoom Heroes holding the first overall pick and closely monitoring him, the key question is what kind of competitiveness he can demonstrate on the mound in this tournament.

Slugging third baseman and 153 km/h power arm Kim Ji-woo of Seoul High School is another focal point. Asked about a possible move to MLB, he said he would “listen to the offers and then decide,” signaling an open stance. Like Ha Hyeonseung, he faces the dilemma of choosing between a two-way path and focusing on a single role. What is clear is that his talent puts him firmly in the conversation for the first overall pick this season.
For clubs desperate to shore up their infield, the top target is undoubtedly Deoksu High School shortstop Eom Jun-sang. As a second-year, he had already locked down the starting shortstop job on the national youth team, and he has been regarded as the best infielder in the Seoul area since his days at Jayang Middle School. On the mound, he posted a remarkable 0.66 ERA over 40.2 innings, but given his relatively modest frame, he is more likely to settle in as a full-time shortstop in the pros. He currently sits unchallenged at No. 1 in the shortstop rankings for this class.



Each school’s ace, who will command the mound, is also ready to go. Deoksu High School right-hander Kim Dae-seung, who throws 150 km/h, draws attention not only for his talent but also for his character. A devout Christian, he expressed a mature ambition, saying he wants to “become a great player like Clayton Kershaw and have a positive impact by helping people in need, such as refugees in Africa.”
Deoksu High School’s Park Hyun-min, whose stuff is a bit raw but highly explosive, is also on scouts’ radar. So is Daegu High School’s top right-hander Jung-il, who was already throwing over 148 km/h as a first-year. Masan High School right-handed fireballer Kim Kyung-rok, whose fastball approaches 150 km/h, and Whimoon High School’s Byun Ji-seok, known for his fluid arm swing from a frame over 190 cm, are likewise drawing close scrutiny.
Another major highlight will be how Masan High School left-hander Lee Yoon-sung, regarded alongside Ha Hyeonseung as one of the top southpaws in this class, performs on the mound against powerhouse Deoksu High School.


The rise of big bats who will heat up the batter’s box is also highly anticipated. Last year’s winner of the Fighting Spirit Hitting Award, Gyeongnam High School’s Lee Ho-min, is attempting a transition to third base this season. His defense remains a work in progress, but if he can stabilize that side of his game, he has the tools to follow in the footsteps of Gyeongnam High School alumnus Roh Si-hwan as an elite third baseman. Outfielder Park Bo-seung, who combines contact skills with power, is also stepping into the spotlight.


jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter