“The 2nd draft, I think it will go out the most in NC.” The coach’s concern, and now he is worried about leakage from the top beneficiary team of “recruitment of 19 players.”

The second draft of the KBO League, which was revived two years after the abolition of the system. The NC Dinos, which benefited the most in the past, are in a situation where they have to protect young players this time.

NC manager Kang In-kwon (51) met with Star News at Changwon NC Park, where the team’s wrap-up training (CAMP 1) is being held on the 21st, and I think our team’s players will get the most out. I’m worried,” he said. 안전놀이터

The second draft, an opportunity for a large number of players who have not been given a chance to play in the team to transfer to other teams, was held every other year from 2011 to 2019. At the end of 2021, the second draft was abolished and the Futures FA system began, but it has been pointed out that the movement of players is not as active as the second draft. In the end, the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced the revival of the system through its board of directors in July, and it will be held behind closed doors on the 22nd.

The draft, which runs until the third round, has several differences from the previous one. The number of protected players has been reduced from 40 to 35 to boost player movement. In addition, after the first to third rounds of nominations for each club, the lower-ranked three clubs will be given two additional nomination rights, allowing up to five people to be nominated. In addition, designated players must be registered for a certain period of time in the first team entry. The transfer money is 400 million won in the first round, 300 million won in the second round, and 200 million won in the third round, and 100 million won for those under the fourth round that the bottom three teams can nominate.

Until now, NC has been a team that has benefited from the second draft. In the previous five drafts, NC selected 19 players while nine players were leaked. This is the highest number among the 10 clubs. There are also several success stories. In the early days of its foundation, the team’s depth was not deep and it was not chosen, and more players were brought in since then. Lee Jae-hak, who was brought from the Doosan Bears during the first draft (2011), won the Rookie of the Year award in 2013, and has won 81 games in NC alone so far this year. In addition, Park Jin-woo in 2018 and Hong Sung-min in 2020 also played well.

But things are different this year. NC has seen many star players leave in recent years, filling its place with young players. Shortstop Kim Joo-won (21) and catcher Kim Hyung-joon (24) have already grown to the main level, and Shin Min-hyuk (24) and Kim Young-kyu (23) are showing rapid growth on the mound. In addition, the number of players with tools is increasing even though they have not taken the main position. Coach Kang said, “There are so many players with great potential in our team. There are also many good resources as the club system takes its place, he said.

As a result, it became more difficult to make a list of 35 protected players. Coach Kang confessed, “I’ve received the (protection) list, and I think our team’s players will get the most out.” “I decided by thinking only about what the best choice was,” manager Kang said, “I saw other teams, and the only place I could see was NC.” In fact, NC is likely to exclude mid-year backup players from the list in the second draft.

Of course, players in their first to third years of joining the team are automatically excluded from the nomination list, so there is no need to worry about the leakage of young prospects. Nevertheless, coach Kang’s concern can be interpreted as meaning that the team’s depth has improved that much.

Then, what will happen to NC’s nomination strategy. Coach Kang said, “I think some teams will be released, but I don’t think it’s as expected.” “I think there will be a few veteran players, but I think we will pick them at the front of our order,” he said. NC, which is ranked fourth in the regular season in the second draft, will exercise its pick in the seventh order. It is not easy to select a player with a big name immediately.