*This content was translated by AI.
"He doesn't really praise me; he just occasionally says 'Good job.'"
The father, a former legendary hitter, was stoic. Yet, within that calm demeanor lay heavy advice and trust for his son. Kiwoom Heroes' 'top-tier rookie' Park Jun-hyun (19) calmly shared his special father-to-son story with Park Seok-min (41), a baseball veteran and his father, who is currently a Samsung Lions 2nd Division coach.
Ahead of the SSG Landers game held at Gocheok Sky Dome on the 19th, Park Jun-hyun met with reporters, expressing his realization of the wall between the professional and high school levels while sharing the secret to adapting to the professional mound with his characteristic bold pitching style.
In particular, Park Jun-hyun pitched 6 innings on the 17th at Changwon NC Park against the NC Dinos, throwing 99 pitches and delivering a stellar performance with 5 hits allowed, 9 strikeouts, 2 walks, and 1 earned run. In the 6th inning, he also hit the catcher's mitt with a fastball clocked at 155 km/h, completing his career-first 'Quality Start (QS, 6 or more innings with 3 or fewer earned runs)' after pitching the most innings since his professional debut. He reduced the walks, which had been identified as an area for improvement, and recorded a remarkable 9 strikeouts, completely dominating the NC lineup.
Park Jun-hyun, who achieved his first QS since his debut, calmly said, "In previous games, I pitched 5 innings and had many regrets. I thought about what was lacking and prepared for this game, and because my first pitches were well-placed strikes, I was able to extend the innings."
Although he hadn't pitched 9 innings in high school, he had pitched up to 8 innings, but the professional mound was definitely different. Park Jun-hyun, who is learning a little bit with each game, smiled and said, "In the pros, you definitely feel the difference from high school when you make mistakes or when the count gets full (and you get hit). I am learning with each game that things don't go as I please."
The source of his 'guts' that is unlike a rookie is his father, Coach Park Seok-min's unseen, full support. Park Jun-hyun said, "I talk to my father on the phone every day before a game," and added, "Since there are players who were on the same team as him in the past, he only tells me things like 'this player has a weakness.'"
The best tip from his father ultimately came down to 'guts.' Park Jun-hyun said, "My father always tells me to pitch confidently on the mound. He says it's okay to get hit, so don't get intimidated and keep going." He also mentioned his father's stoic reaction even after the game where he achieved his first professional QS, saying, "He doesn't really praise me; he just says 'Good job' once."
Thanks to his father's advice, Park Jun-hyun on the mound is truly a 'loner.' He confessed that even if catcher Kim Geon-hee gives a sign, he shakes his head if there is a pitch he wants to throw, showing he has a strong sense of self. Park Jun-hyun said, "I push forward confidently with the thought that it's okay to get hit. Once I'm on the mound, I pitch exactly as I think," revealing guts that are unlike a rookie.
Another secret to Park Jun-hyun's growth is his senior teammate and 'ace' An Woo-jin (27). Park Jun-hyun, who said that An Woo-jin's very existence is the greatest blessing given to him, smiled and said, "I'll take over everything before (An) Woo-jin goes to the Major Leagues," and added, "When Woo-jin hyung goes to the U.S., I want to seize every opportunity to gain as much experience as possible in the first division so I can take on that role."
Regarding the gradually emerging talk of the 'Rookie of the Year,' he drew a line by saying, "I don't really have any ambition. If I become a player who helps the team, such titles will naturally follow," and added, "Right now, I am only thinking about the team."
Park Jun-hyun, inheriting the blood of a legendary father and growing up next to the best textbook, An Woo-jin, has already set his sights on Kiwoom's future ace spot. He vowed, "I will finish May well and show you an even better performance in June."
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*This content was translated by AI.
