13 rookies take the stage at the opening game of professional baseball

Thirteen new players were named on the 2026 professional baseball opening game roster announced by the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) on the 27th. Among the 10 clubs, Lotte and NC included the most rookies in the entry, with 3 each.

Lotte will send right-handed pitchers Park Jung-min and Lee Jun-seo and infielder Lee Seo-jun to the Daegu expedition. NC is targeting outfielder Ko Jun-hwi and infielders Shin Jae-in and Heo Yoon to play in the game against Doosan held at home.

In addition, KT selected right-handed pitcher Park Ji-hoon and infielder Lee Kang-min, Hanwha selected outfielder Oh Jae-won and infielder Choi Yu-bin, and Kiwoom selected infielders Park Han-gyeol and Choi Jae-young. At Samsung, right-handed pitcher Jang Chan-hee was the only rookie to join the lineup. On the other hand, SSG, Doosan, LG, and KIA did not include rookie players in their opening roster.

Stove League transfer students also appear in the opening game

Large transfer players who heated up the league last winter were also included in the opening entry list. Choi Hyung-woo, who returned to his former team Samsung, will break the record for the oldest KBO League fielder to appear in the game.

Baek-ho Kang, who transferred to Hanwha, Chan-ho Park, an infielder wearing a Doosan uniform, and Hyun-soo Kim, a veteran who moved to KT, will also appear in the opening game as scheduled. Veteran outfielder Son Ah-seop, who signed a one-year 100 million won contract with his original team Hanwha after lengthy negotiations, was also included in the entry. Every time Son Ah-seop hits a hit, he breaks his record for the most hits in the KBO League (2,618).

Trends of players seeking a comeback and major starting pitchers

Lotte infielder Noh Jin-hyuk, who has been struggling in recent years and is seeking a comeback through intensive winter training, also joined the opening day roster. Starting pitchers scheduled to start during the week, including Hanwha Ryu Hyun-jin, KIA Yang Hyun-jong, and KT Go Young-pyo, are expected to be registered in accordance with their mounding schedules.