KBS 1TV documentary explores the rising velocity revolution in Korean baseball

KBS 1TV's 'Docu Insight' will air a program at 10 PM on the 22nd examining how rising pitch speeds are transforming Korean baseball. The documentary follows the evolution of fastballs, featuring Doosan Bears' Kwak Bin, whose maximum velocity is recorded to have increased from 153.2 km/h in 2023 to 160.3 km/h in 2026.

With Korean professional baseball entering an era of 12 million spectators, pitcher velocity has emerged as a central theme in both gameplay and player development. The window between a pitch being thrown and a batter swinging is a mere 0.4 seconds. This intense competition for speed is influencing batter swings, defensive play, and training methodologies. KBS 1TV's 'Docu Insight' will air 'Velocity Revolution—In Search of the Fireballer' at 10 PM on the 22nd, covering the evolution of fastballs and the sports science supporting them. Alongside Park Yong-taik and Yoon Hee-sang, who analyze the trends of Korean baseball, the program will examine cases such as Doosan Bears' Kwak Bin, Busan High School's Ha Hyun-seung, and Deoksu High School's Eom Jun-sang. The program introduces the background of rising velocities through data analysis, biomechanics measurements, and the training sites of high school prospects.

The Velocity Race Born from a 0.4-Second Duel

According to program introductory materials, the fastball is a pitcher's primary weapon and the starting point of competition in modern baseball. The velocity revolution, which began in Major League Baseball in the mid-2000s, moved through Japan to South Korea, serving as a catalyst for raising the average pitch speeds of pitchers worldwide. The program explains that as pitchers throw balls at 160 km/h, batters are increasing their swing power to make contact, and defensive players are also becoming faster on the field.

It takes approximately 0.4 seconds for a ball to leave a pitcher's hand and reach a batter. The documentary covers how this speed competition, occurring within that timeframe, is transforming not only hitting and defense but also player development systems. Through the perspectives of Park Yong-taik and Yoon Hee-sang, who have experienced Korean baseball, and data experts, the program will examine how the fastball dictates the flow of modern games. Rather than treating rising velocity as a mere individual record for a single pitcher, the show will also introduce the corresponding responses from batters and changes in defense.

The program cites the surge in professional baseball spectators and changes on the mound as the background for the growing interest in velocity in recent Korean baseball. The source noted that professional baseball is maintaining its momentum, having surpassed 12 million spectators. It also mentions that in the high school scene, there are as many as 20 to 30 pitchers throwing balls exceeding 150 km/h. The documentary follows the current state of the velocity revolution, expanding its scope from the data analysis of professional players to the training of high school players.

Kwak Bin's Velocity Increase and Data Analysis

Doosan Bears' ace Kwak Bin serves as a case study for the sports science discussed in the program. The introductory materials state that Kwak Bin's maximum velocity this season reached 160 km/h, noting that data records show an increase from 153.2 km/h in 2023 to 160.3 km/h in 2026. The program will examine the data and training used in his growth process. It notes that instead of merely recording pitch results, data analyzing ball spin rates, trajectories, and a player's joint movements is being used for player development and performance enhancement.

TrackMan data utilizes radar technology to track the spin rate and trajectory of a flying ball. Hawk-Eye data uses 16 high-speed cameras to capture even the joint movements of a player. The documentary introduces how this data is used to verify a player's pitching motion and ball characteristics. The program materials explain that in baseball, data has moved beyond simple records to become a core pipeline for player development and performance improvement.

Kwak Bin's velocities are presented as 153.2 km/h and 160.3 km/h for the years 2023 and 2026, respectively. Along with these figures, the documentary covers the secrets to growth through data utilization. The introductory materials include the measurement methods of TrackMan and Hawk-Eye alongside Kwak Bin's velocity changes. Through the case of Kwak Bin, introduced as a top KBO fireballer, the program will show the process of how advanced sports science is applied to professional player training.

Korea University Baseball Team's Biomechanics Experiments

Applications of sports science appear not only in professional baseball but also in college baseball. The Korea University baseball team has been conducting biomechanics measurement experiments for three years. By mechanically analyzing the process of how force is transferred during a player's movement, they diagnose problems in pitching and hitting processes and use the results to determine training directions. The program covers the measurement experiments and results maintained by the university baseball team.

The introductory materials also shared the case of NC Dinos player Jung Teun-teun. The materials explain that Jung experienced control issues after entering university, and a knee problem was identified within just five minutes of biomechanics measurement. The measurement is conducted by observing a player's movements to analyze how force is transferred. The Korea University baseball team uses this to diagnose problems occurring in pitching and hitting and to reflect them in training plans.

Through the experiments of the Korea University baseball team, the program introduces how college players receive motion analysis and how those results are used to set training directions. The content of the experiment involves analyzing the force transfer process of the body rather than just observing the movement of specific parts. In the case of Jung Teun-teun, both control issues and knee problems were mentioned.

Training and Growth of Ha Hyun-seung and Eom Jun-sang

In high school baseball, there are 20 to 30 pitchers throwing balls over 150 km/h. Ha Hyun-seung of Busan High School and Eom Jun-sang of Deoksu High School were introduced as players attracting the attention of domestic and international scouts. The program conducted intensive coverage of the two players from February to September 2026. It also covers the high school baseball league scenes, training processes, and the story of winning the Asian Youth Baseball Championship. Through the growth process of the two players and their challenges to reach higher stages, the program highlights high school baseball prospects.

Ha Hyun-seung possesses a physique of 195cm in height and 97kg in weight and has continued intense physical training. The program materials stated that he has set new maximum velocity records every year, achieving 153 km/h this year. Ha Hyun-seung was selected as the first overall pick in the 2026 KBO Rookie Draft and was introduced as a player who broke the record for the largest signing bonus ever. The specific amount of the signing bonus was not provided in the materials.

Eom Jun-sang was introduced as a player who throws powerful fastballs of 153 km/h and plays both pitcher and shortstop. He joined the Arizona Diamondbacks. The program contains the training of Ha Hyun-seung and Eom Jun-sang, as well as the high school baseball scene, the growth process of the two players, and the story of their victory at the Asian Youth Baseball Championship. Both players were mentioned as high school prospects attracting the attention of domestic and international scouts. Along with their challenges, the program covers the trend of increasing velocity in Korean high school baseball.

Docu Insight 'Velocity Revolution—In Search of the Fireballer' broadcasts on Thursday the 22nd at 10 PM on KBS 1TV. The program will sequentially introduce the perspectives of Park Yong-taik and Yoon Hee-sang, explanations from data experts, Kwak Bin's case of utilizing sports science, and the biomechanics experiments of the Korea University baseball team. The training and growth processes of high school players Ha Hyun-seung and Eom Jun-sang will also be covered.

Read the original (Korean)