'Son of Park Seok-min' Park Jun-hyun's Special Trip to Daegu: "Visiting as an Away Team Makes It Different → Thank You, An Woo-jin, for Your Advice"

*This content was translated by AI.

'Son of Park Seok-min (41, currently Samsung Lions 2nd Division coach)' Park Jun-hyun (19), the top overall pick in the 2026 Rookie Draft and a 'monster rookie' right-handed pitcher for Kiwoom Heroes, shared his special reflections on visiting his hometown Daegu as an away team.

'Park Jun-hyun, meeting with reporters ahead of the the 5th away game against Samsung Lions, said, "Every day is really fun." He added, "I feel a lot in each game, and by reflecting on the good and bad points, I realize I am growing a lot on my own, which makes me happy." Unlike his father, who enjoyed taking notes in a notebook, Park Jun-hyun uses his smartphone to record things he wants to remember, showing a thorough self-disciplined side while smiling.

'Before this season, Park Jun-hyun, wearing a Kiwoom uniform, made his debut as a starter in the April 26 game against Samsung at Gocheok Sky Dome, pitching 5 innings with 4 hits allowed, 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts in a scoreless performance. This earned him a rare rookie debut win as a high school graduate, a feat achieved only 13 times in KBO League history. Although he became the losing pitcher in the the 3rd game against Doosan Bears at Gocheok, pitching 3⅔ innings with 6 hits allowed, 3 walks, and 3 earned runs (4 total runs), he is scheduled to continue starting in first division games for the foreseeable future.

'Reflecting on his previous two games, Park Jun-hyun said, "In the first game, my control was not too bad, but in the second game, I felt a bit different. I think my balance was not good either. I need to think about the reasons for the poor performance and prepare for the next game."

'In fact, Park Jun-hyun's hometown is Daegu. Although he attended Cheonan Bukil High School for baseball studies, he spent his childhood in Daegu due to his father's influence. This is how Park Jun-hyun visited Daegu as a member of an away team. Regarding this, he said, "It's a place where (my father) often came to watch baseball, so visiting as an away team for a game feels different." He also added, "On the day off (the 4th), I spent time eating delicious food with my teammates."

'Especially, accompanying An Woo-jin (27), a senior teammate and the league's top pitcher, is a great asset for Park Jun-hyun. Park said, "Since An Woo-jin and I have similar playing styles, I ask him a lot about how to approach games as a starter and how to handle specific situations. He is also my roommate on away trips." He expressed gratitude, saying, "He gives me a lot of practical advice that helps in real games." It is reported that An Woo-jin continues to help Park's growth by providing specific feedback, such as the importance of the first pitch, even after games.

'This season, Park Jun-hyun, coincidentally, wears the number 18 jersey, which is also symbolic of his father. He was able to wear it because Jang Pil-jun (38), who wore number 18 last season, was released in August 2025. Park said, "I have worn number 18 since elementary school, and since the number was available on the team, I got to wear it." He smiled, adding, "I am truly grateful for the consideration shown by the team."

'As Park Jun-hyun fully participates in the first division starting rotation, he is also focusing on physical management. He said, "I am strictly following my weight training and running schedule to match my once-a-week pitching schedule." He showed confidence, stating, "Since it is still May, there are no physical issues."

'Finally, he shared an anecdote about his father, Park Seok-min. Park Jun-hyun said, "Before my debut game, he told me to just look at the strike zone and enter with confidence." He added, "Even after the Doosan game, he gave feedback and told me to prepare well for the next game and pitch with confidence."

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*This content was translated by AI.