Park Jun-hyun, raised in Daegu, takes on his first 'La Park' start → Coincidentally faces Samsung, the team he defeated in his first win

*This content was translated by AI.

Park Jun-hyun (19), the top overall pick in the 2026 Rookie Draft and Kiwoom Heroes' "monster rookie" right-hander, finally takes the mound on his hometown Daegu. The stage is an away game against Samsung Lions at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 17th. It is an intriguing matchup, given the fortunate memory of having secured a win against Samsung in his debut start.

This Daegu away trip holds special meaning for Park Jun-hyun. As the son of Park Seok-min (41, currently a Kiwoom Heroes 2nd division coach), a legendary infielder in the KBO League, he spent most of his childhood in Daegu while nurturing his dream of becoming a baseball player. His roots are firmly in Daegu, where he completed middle school before leaving for high school (Cheonan Bukil High) to pursue baseball studies. Although he accompanied the team on a Daegu away series in early May, he did not pitch at that time. He is now stepping onto the mound as the starting pitcher for the visiting team at "La Park," a place he had visited countless times as a child to watch his father's games.

Coincidentally, the opponent he will face in front of his hometown fans is Samsung, the team that brought him the joy of his first career victory. On April 26, Park made his debut as a starter in a game against Samsung at Gocheok, pitching five scoreless innings with four hits allowed, thereby achieving a historic milestone as the 14th high school graduate rookie in KBO history to secure a win in his debut start.

However, he experienced some ups and downs after his first win. Although he recorded one quality start (QS), pitching six or more innings with three or fewer earned runs, luck did not favor him. After failing to secure a win in six consecutive games, Park was removed from the first-division roster, giving him time to regroup. Returning to the first division via a game against NC at Gocheok on the 11th, Park will now challenge to turn the tide and aim for his second win of the season in the game on the 17th.

Additionally, the direct confrontation with the Daegu lineup, where he must prove himself as the symbol of his father, Coach Park Seok-min, and the jersey number "18" he currently wears, is another intriguing aspect. Park, who has posted a respectable record of one win and two losses with an ERA of 3.51 in seven games this season, previously held Samsung batters to a batting average of 0.211 in the April 26 game against Samsung at Gocheok.

Will "Daegu Kid" Park Jun-hyun roar again, making Samsung his prey on the familiar yet unfamiliar La Park mound, and reach the summit of two wins this season? The true test of the monster rookie unfolds on the 17th in Daegu.

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*This content was translated by AI.