Bonghwang tournament, gateway for future baseball stars

Oh Seung-hwan

• Published Aug 2, 2016 5:08 PM KST
• Updated Aug 2, 2016 5:08 PM KST

By Baek Byung-yeul

While the 44th edition of the Bonghwang High School Baseball Tournament is set to begin its 14-day long competition beginning Wednesday, it remains to be seen who in this year’s tournament will become future baseball stars.

Ever since its inaugural event in 1971, the Bonghwang baseball tournament has been a gateway to baseball stardom as it has pitted Korea’s best baseball players against each other. Players who impress the crowd with their extraordinary performances eventually receive media attention and could ascend to star status.

In the inaugural edition in 1971, Kim Jae-bak, former manager of the Hyundai Unicorns of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) rose to stardom for leading his team Daegwang High School to advance to the finals after defeating baseball powerhouse Choong Ang High School.

Though Kim made his professional baseball debut late in 1982 at the age of 28, his name made a deep impression on baseball fans in Korea for laying down a fantastic bunt that scored the tie breaker at the finals of the 1982 Amateur World Series baseball tournament against Japan.

Former major leaguer Park Chan-ho was also discovered at Bonghwang after throwing a shut-out against the Gwangju Jeil High School when he was a senior at Kongju High School in 1991.

Park Byung-ho, who now plays in the United States, also had a memorable time in the Bonghwang tourney. In 2004, Park, then a Sungnam High School senior, became the first high school player to hit four consecutive home runs. Thanks to the power potential he showed in the tournament, the Minnesota Twins began scouting him.

Kang Jung-ho of the Pittsburgh Pirates received a fighting spirit award for leading his team Gwangju Jeil High School to finish as a runner-up in 2005 as a catcher. Kang currently plays as a third baseman for the Pirates.

Choo Shin-soo of the Texas Rangers and Oh Seung-hwan of the St. Louis Cardinals also made their appearances as pitchers in 2000. Choo especially drew huge media attention for throwing 93 mph fastballs.

Which school will win?

Among 69 high schools, the schools in Seoul, Incheon and South Gyeongsang Province will likely have the best chances of winning the Bonghwang title, according to the Hankook Ilbo.

In Seoul and nearby areas including Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, 32 schools will join the tournament and Seoul’s Duksoo High School, which already claimed the Hwanggeum Saja (Golden Lion) Flag High School Baseball Tournament and the Cheongryong (Blue Dragon) High School Baseball Tournament this year, is figured to be the most promising contender for the Bonghwang title.

In the southern part of the country, Masan Yongma High School in South Gyeongsang Province, with Na Jong-deok, one of this year’s top prospects at catcher, and Busan’s Kyungnam High School, with good batting depth and good defense, are considered as favorites to win the title.

Co-hosted by Hankook Ilbo, sister paper of The Korea Times, and the Korea Baseball Association (KBA), the 44th Bonghwang tourney will take place at five baseball parks including KT Wiz Park in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, and Mokdong Baseball Stadium in western Seoul from Wednesday to Aug. 16.