"I didn't know I could hit this well." Doosan's "Soon-i," who hit home runs, has erased doubts about his power-hitting ability and achieved both All-Star selection and a spot on the national team. [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

The "Soon-i" beloved by Doosan Bears fans has grown from Jamsil Baseball Stadium into a promising young infielder in the KBO League.

Park Jun-soon (20) was known since his time at Deoksu High School as a player with exceptional hitting skills. His coach at Deoksu High, Jung Yun-jin, took such care of Park that he accompanied him to and from the baseball stadium every day due to his unflappable mentality and attitude toward the sport.

There was only one question mark. While he recorded a batting average of 0.425 and 39 stolen bases over three high school years, earning recognition for his precision and base-running ability, doubts remained about whether he could demonstrate power-hitting prowess at the professional level. Although he hit five home runs during his senior year after gaining bulk through relentless effort, it was not enough to overturn that perception within a few months.

Despite the disappointing evaluation, his exceptional contact ability was undeniable. Park Jun-soon attracted interest from Major League Baseball scouts and was ultimately selected sixth overall in the first round of the 2025 KBO Rookie Draft, donning the Doosan uniform. In November of that year, he also won the Star Award at the "2024 Futures Star Awards." The selection committee stated, "Park Jun-soon possesses changeup-handling skills beyond those expected of an amateur player. His reaction to fastballs and ability to drive the ball are excellent."

Park Jun-soon proved that evaluation from his first professional season. In his debut year last season, he played 91 games with a batting average of 0.284 (80 hits in 282 at-bats), 11 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs, 19 RBIs, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.687.

In his second season this year, he erased even doubts about his power-hitting ability. Despite a thigh injury in May, he maintained consistent hitting and finished the first half with 54 games, a batting average of 0.336 (73 hits in 217 at-bats), 11 home runs, 39 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.956. Notably, even while playing at the expansive Jamsil Baseball Stadium, he recorded 11 home runs and a slugging percentage of 0.576. He has grown from a hitter who simply makes good contact to an infielder capable of delivering powerful hits.

This transformation was something Park Jun-soon himself did not expect. In a recent interview with StarNews at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, he said, "I think my condition was fine because I rested before coming out. Playing in the minor league helped." He added with a smile, "I didn't know I could hit this well myself. As I kept hitting, home runs started coming out, and I produced many good hits."

There were no major changes to his batting form. However, the feel he developed since last season in the Futures League has continued into this year. Park Jun-soon explained, "My form itself hasn't changed from last year. Around May or June last year, while practicing alone at night in the Futures League, I tried a new approach: 'Let's try hitting with my upper body slightly more extended.' From then on, I started making solid contact and have continued that approach."

He also did not pay much attention to the long-standing doubts about his power-hitting ability since high school. Park Jun-soon said calmly, "I haven't really thought about that. If my timing is right, extra-base hits will follow, so I didn't worry too much about it." Instead, he consistently worked on building his physique after joining the professional league.

Of course, not everything has been easy. Park Jun-soon is playing his first full season this year. He said, "Since it's my first full season, managing my physical condition seems a bit difficult. I don't follow a special diet plan; I just try to sleep more and eat well." He smiled while saying this.

Support from those around him has also been significant. Park Jun-soon stated, "(Park) Chan-ho hyung and (Yang) Ui-ji sunbae have given me a lot of advice." He added, "Especially Chan-ho hyung often jokes with me and frequently points out areas like lowering my stance in defense. Thanks to that, I've become accustomed to it and adapted well, so there's nothing particularly difficult now."

His growth has led to tangible results. Park Jun-soon was confidently selected as the Dream All-Star second baseman for this year's final All-Star Game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium through fan voting. The All-Star Game promotion video titled "Look at Me, Soon-i," released on Doosan's official YouTube channel, recorded 400,000 views, showcasing explosive popularity.

He also likes the nickname given by fans. Park Jun-soon said, "I like the nickname 'Soon-i' the most. It's easy to say and sticks well in the mouth. The older players also call me 'Soon-i'."

Park Jun-soon has been named to the national team for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games scheduled for September, earning the right to wear the Taegeuk mark. He said, "I think of the All-Star Game as a place just to enjoy myself, so I plan to have fun there." He added confidently, "Although I'll be away from my team for about two or three weeks due to national team duties, I'm not worried because we have many experienced players on our team."

Park Jun-soon, who has quickly erased the question marks directed at himself, has now grown into an infielder capable of hitting home runs even at Jamsil. He declared his ambitious plans: "I hope to stay healthy and win as many games as possible in the remaining first-half matches, then run hard again in the second half."

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*This content was translated by AI.