Debut first home run allowed → Next at-bat '157-157-157㎞' head-on showdown, 19-year-old super rookie's fierce competitive spirit

*This content was translated by AI.

Despite the pain of allowing a home run in his debut, he showed no signs of being intimidated and burned with an even fiercer competitive spirit.

Kiwoom Heroes' "super rookie" Park Jun-hyun (19) started against the KIA Tigers in a game held at Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome on the 23rd, allowing a two-run home run to the opposing No. 4 hitter, Na Sung-beom (37). It was his first home run allowed since his debut, coming after 9 games, 43 innings, and facing the 187th batter.

In the bottom of the 3rd inning with the score tied 0-0, Park Jun-hyun allowed a left-field single to Kim Do-young with two outs. Following that, he threw a 153㎞ fastball on a 1-1 count to Na Sung-beom, who hit a home run over the right-field fence. It was Na's 14th home run of the season, a large arch with a distance of 140m. However, Park calmly struck out the next batter, Castro, preventing any additional runs.

The next matchup between Na Sung-beom and Park Jun-hyun drew attention. It was a crisis situation in the bottom of the 5th inning with two outs and runners on first and second base.

Park Jun-hyun threw a 157㎞ fastball (ball) on the first pitch, the fastest of the game that day. On the second and third pitches, he threw sliders dropping low at 143㎞ and 146㎞, inducing swings and misses. The fourth and fifth pitches were again consecutive 157㎞ fastballs, slightly missing the top of the strike zone, making the count 3-2. The final sixth pitch was also a 155㎞ fastball, which dropped low toward the batter's body, ultimately resulting in a walk.

Facing the batter who had hit the home run in his debut, Park showed no signs of being intimidated and instead chose a head-on showdown with the same fastball that had previously allowed the home run. This was a level of confidence and competitive spirit befitting a 19-year-old rookie just stepping onto the professional stage.

Park Jun-hyun continued to throw consecutive 156㎞ and 157㎞ fastballs against Castro with two outs and the bases loaded, inducing a ground ball to the second baseman on the fourth pitch with a 145㎞ slider, finishing the inning without allowing a run. Despite throwing over 100 pitches, he kept unleashing his powerful fastball.

Park's performance in the game was 5 innings (102 pitches), 3 hits allowed (1 home run), 2 earned runs, 5 walks, and 5 strikeouts. The team lost 3-7, and Park suffered his third loss of the season (1 win). Over 9 games, he has pitched 45⅓ innings, recording 30 walks, 40 strikeouts, and an ERA of 2.98.

Signed by Kiwoom with a contract bonus of 700 million won as the first overall pick in the first round of the 2026 Rookie Draft, Park Jun-hyun earned a victory in his first-team debut on April 26 against the Samsung Lions, pitching 5 scoreless innings. He followed this with a 6-inning, 1-run performance against the NC Dinos on May 17, and a stable 7-inning scoreless outing against Samsung on June 17.

Kiwoom manager Seol Jong-jin (53) praised Park Jun-hyun before the game, saying, "He is evolving gradually. He is growing more than expected, and the player himself feels the same way."

He also expressed his intention to carefully manage the promising player with unlimited potential. Manager Seol explained, "Now it is the team's responsibility to adjust his innings to prevent injuries. We plan to go steadily without overexertion. We are aiming for around 100 pitches per game, as reported by Maeil Business Newspaper (MK), and a total of around 100 innings for the season. We have made plans accordingly and are following them."

He added, "We are not giving any signs from the bench regarding pitch selection. Park Jun-hyun is also a style who manages the game well on his own, unlike a typical rookie, so we trust and leave it to him."

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*This content was translated by AI.