Rookie of the Year favorite Heo In-seo aims for postseason to complete his season

Heo In-seo, a 23-year-old catcher for the Hanwha Eagles, is solidifying his position as the frontrunner for the KBO League Rookie of the Year award. Nicknamed 'Uh-shin-Heo' (meaning 'Heo is the Rookie of the Year anyway'), his exceptional performance has made him a clear favorite, even as other talented rookies compete for the title.

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When I finished my first year as a pro and went to Sangmu, seeing (Moon) Dong-ju and (Kim) Do-yeong do well gave me a clear motivation. We are close friends, so I thought, 'I have to do well too.'

Heo has impressed not only with his bat but also with his defense. Since becoming the team's starting catcher in early May, he has achieved the league's qualifying batting average threshold, currently standing at .294, second only to designated hitter Kang Baek-ho on his team. He also hit his 16th home run of the season on Tuesday and boasts the second-highest stolen base prevention rate in the league at .308. His blocking skills are also highly regarded.

Eligible for the award due to limited previous playing time, Heo's potential Rookie of the Year title would mark the third time a player born in 2003 has won the award. This follows his teammates Moon Dong-ju (2023) and Ahn Hyun-min (2025). The 2003 birth year is proving to be a golden generation in the KBO, producing stars like Kim Do-young of the KIA Tigers and numerous other promising players who are expected to lead the future of South Korean baseball.

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I give myself a 70 on the season. I want to fill the remaining 30 points by helping the team reach the fall baseball season.

Despite the strong competition from his peers, Heo is making his mark from the demanding position of catcher. He recently shared in an interview that seeing his close friends Moon Dong-ju and Kim Do-yeong perform well motivated him to improve. He rates his current performance at 70%, aiming to add the remaining 30% by helping the Hanwha Eagles reach the postseason. "I never expected to play a full season this year, so I'm playing with gratitude," Heo said.

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I never expected to play a full season this year, so I'm playing with gratitude.