'158km/h' Park Jun-hyeon's 5⅔ innings of KKKKKKKK power pitching, but the '3 runs allowed after two outs' left an indelible mark [Jamsil On-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

The disappointment of the final inning could not completely overshadow the brilliant memories of the preceding five innings. Park Jun-hyeon (19, Kiwoom Heroes), the top overall pick in the high school draft, thrilled fans with powerful pitching in his first Jamsil game.

On the 24th, Park made his season debut as the starting pitcher against the LG Twins in a road game at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium, recording 5⅔ innings, 4 hits allowed, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts, and 3 earned runs. Unfortunately, the win did not come. Kiwoom led 4-3 in the bottom of the 9th, but closer Kanakubo Yuto surrendered a walk-off three-run home run to Park Hae-min with two outs and runners on first and second, resulting in a 4-6 comeback loss and erasing Park's second win of the season.

There was also disappointment for Park personally. Having thrown 72 pitches through the fifth inning, Park showed signs of instability when he took the mound in the bottom of the sixth. Initially, luck was on his side. After issuing three consecutive balls to leadoff batter Shin Min-jae, a sixth-pitch mistake ball rolled toward the shortstop, resulting in a groundout for the first out.

Outstanding on-base leader Hong Chang-gi could not avoid reaching base. He drew a walk after seeing five pitches, while Park Hae-min was retired via a looking strikeout. From that point on, trouble ensued. Austin Dean's first pitch dropped in the middle of the plate, resulting in a double to center field. Oh Ji-hwan skillfully lifted a low slider on the inside corner, driving in one run with a two-run double down the right-field line. Following that, Cheon Seong-ho also targeted an inside changeup, hitting a two-run double to left-center field. As a result, Park failed to achieve a quality start (six or more innings with three or fewer earned runs).

This was a typical physical limitation for a 19-year-old pitcher in his first full professional season. However, Park demonstrated clearly in the first five innings how powerful he could be when physically prepared.

In fact, Park Jun-hyeon dominated the early atmosphere of the game. While opposing starter Song Seung-gi struggled with control, allowing 3⅓ innings, 7 hits, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts, and 4 earned runs, Park overwhelmed the LG lineup with fresh velocity and computer-precise command.

From the start, he consistently hit the corners of the strike zone with pitches reaching up to 157 km/h, inducing numerous swings and misses. In the bottom of the first, he struck out Hong Chang-gi swinging, and turned Park Hae-min into a groundout to second base. Against Austin, he induced a swing with a low outside pitch, then dropped two sliders on the strike zone, resulting in a catcher's strikeout.

In the second inning, he conserved his pitch count. Although he allowed a hit to leadoff batter Oh Ji-hwan from the first pitch, he induced a double play with a single pitch to Cheon Seong-ho, quickly recording two outs. Against Lee Young-bin, he threw two consecutive curveballs to catch him off guard, then followed with an inside slider to secure a swinging strikeout.

The strategy was similar against right-handed batters. In the third, he induced a swing and miss from Song Chan-ui with a low outside pitch, then struck him out looking with a high inside pitch. He walked Shin Min-jae and induced a flyout to the shortstop from Lee Ju-heon, but struck out Hong Chang-gi swinging by attacking the upper part of the strike zone.

Park continued with steady pitching. Although he issued a walk to Austin due to a pitch clock violation, he retired the following batters via a swinging strikeout and a flyout to right field without allowing any runs. In the fifth inning, he retired Lee Young-bin on three pitches and finished the frame with just nine pitches. Up to that point, he had used only 72 pitches.

Park threw a total of 96 pitches today, including 47 fastballs, 34 sliders, and 15 curveballs, marking his third consecutive game with over 90 pitches. His fastest fastball reached 158 km/h. Despite struggling in the final inning, Park induced 12 swings and misses from LG batters. Even the veteran LG players, accustomed to winning twice, had no choice but to miss the bat.

Indeed, he was a top overall pick worthy of the title. After graduating from Yulha Elementary, Gyeong sang Middle, and Bukil High School, Park was selected first overall in the first round of the 2026 KBO Rookie Draft by Kiwoom, stepping onto the professional stage. He began to stand out toward the end of his second year and was consistently regarded as the top prospect by domestic and international scouts. Last year, a KBO scout remarked, "Park Jun-hyeon is the most complete pitcher in terms of skill. His fastball is fast, and his high-speed slider and curveball are overwhelming."

Similar praise came a year later on the professional stage. Cheon Seong-ho of LG, who was struck out by Park, told reporters after the game, "His fastball was definitely fast and good. But his breaking balls were not bad either. If he continues to pitch well, I think he will become a great player."

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*This content was translated by AI.