*This content was translated by AI.
"I'm shy because I'm not used to interviews... but I'm most confident in my contact ability that doesn't yield to any pitch."
On November 25, 2024, 18-year-old Park Jun-soon, then a student at Deoksu High School, said this.
At the '2024 Futures Star Awards' ceremony hosted by StarNews that day, he received the Star Award in the baseball category. Park Jun-soon, who was about to make his professional debut after being selected 6th overall in the first round of the 2025 Rookie Draft by the Doosan Bears, said, "I'm training my body to show my face in the first division as quickly as possible," and added, "I don't feel much pressure regarding defense. (Regarding home runs) Jamsil Stadium is wide, but I don't particularly care. That's because I'm not a power hitter."
Little did anyone know that this high school senior would grow into the ultimate problem solver of Korean professional baseball within a year and a half.
As of April 30, Park Jun-soon (20), a second-year infielder for Doosan, ranks first in the 2026 KBO League for clutch hits. Moreover, Park Jun-soon is among the top in various batting statistics, including a batting average of 0.365 (6th), 38 hits (4th), 13 multi-hit games (tied for 2nd), and an OPS of 0.948 (8th).
His ability to deliver a decisive blow at crucial moments for his team stands out. He has recorded 3 home runs and 19 RBIs (tied for 10th), among which 6 are game-winning hits. He confidently leads the league, surpassing formidable seniors such as Kim Do-young (KIA Tigers) and Jang Sung-woo (KT Wiz), and Moon Sung-ju (LG Twins) (all with 4 game-winning hits). His batting average with runners in scoring position is 0.424, ranking 6th.
Compared to his debut season, this is a remarkable growth trajectory. Last year, he played in 91 games, recording a batting average of 0.284, 80 hits, 4 home runs, and 19 RBIs. He had only 4 game-winning hits throughout the season.
In the game against Samsung Lions held at Seoul Jamsil Stadium on April 30, Park Jun-soon clearly demonstrated his mature problem-solving abilities. With the score tied 5-5 in the bottom of the 8th inning, two outs, and bases loaded, he smashed a 144 km/h fastball from opposing pitcher Kim Jae-yoon deep into left-center field for a sweep 3-run game-winning double.
Earlier, in the bottom of the 3rd inning with no outs and a runner on second, he also showed a hustle play by attempting a bunt toward third base and creating an infield hit with a head-first slide at first base. He went 3-for-5 with 3 RBIs that day, leading his team to an 8-5 victory.
After the game, Park Jun-soon reflected on the 8th-inning game-winning situation, saying, "Hitting coach Lee Jin-young told me to swing confidently, so I just focused on one fastball." Regarding the surprise bunt in the 3rd inning, he explained, "I decided on my own because the next batter is my senior (Yang) Eui-ji, so I thought I needed to get on base to keep good opportunities coming. I also considered that the opposing third baseman was positioned deep."
Doosan set a new all-time KBO League record for consecutive scoreless games without an error, going from the game against Incheon SSG Landers on the 15th until today with 14 consecutive games without an error. The previous record was 13 games, achieved four times: by Samsung in 2002, by Doosan in 2021 and 2023, and by Kiwoom Heroes in 2024.
Park Jun-soon, whose second-base defense was somewhat shaky early in the season, has regained his stability. "I'm happy that there have been no errors. I think the coaches did a great job, which led to this record," he said.
The interviewee was still a shy 20-year-old. When asked about the secret to his strength in clutch situations, Park Jun-soon smiled and said, "I think good results just followed as I kept hitting. It's fun to come out to the ballparks these days, and it's even happier because the team is winning."
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*This content was translated by AI.
