'KIA's Reliable .300 Hitting Catcher' Han Jun-su: "Focus is on Defense, Goal is the Golden Glove"

*This content was translated by AI.

With a batting average of 0.313, Han Jun-su (27, KIA Tigers) is delivering the most dominant performance among starting catchers in the league, yet his focus remains squarely on defense rather than offense.

On the 21st at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field during the home game against Hanwha Eagles in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League, Han Jun-su led his team to victory with an outstanding performance: two hits in four at-bats, three RBIs, one run scored, including a three-run home run.

Han Jun-su joined KIA through the first-round draft in 2018 and is enjoying his best season yet, receiving more opportunities than ever since his debut this year. In 79 games, he has posted a .313 batting average (71 hits in 227 at-bats), seven home runs, 31 RBIs, 31 runs scored, a .425 on-base percentage, a .489 slugging percentage, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.914, establishing himself as the league's top offensive catcher.

That day, with his team leading 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning, one out, and runners on first and third, Han Jun-su smashed Park Jun-young's slider down the middle over the center-field fence for a three-run home run. This was his seventh home run of the season, tying his personal bests from 2024 and 2025. Just one more would set a new career high in home runs while also bringing double-digit homers within reach.

However, Han Jun-su's focus is not on home runs or batting average, but solely on defense. "I don't worry about my batting average," he said. "I don't think about going up to bat three or four times in a game and getting two hits out of three at-bats with one walk; I consider the overall picture when playing."

Han Jun-su added, "At first, I had no specific goal, but now I want to win the Golden Glove. Defense comes before offense. I believe that if I perform well defensively, the batting will follow. My goal as a catcher is to receive at least once in my career."

He has also significantly reduced his number of wild pitches. "The battery coach gave me intensive training, and I always go through our pre-game routine with him, which has greatly boosted my confidence," he shared.

With veteran catcher Kim Tae-geun sidelined due to injury, Han Jun-su's role within the team has become more important than ever. Nevertheless, Han stated, "Before, as a catcher, I focused too much on hitting, which caused my mood to fluctuate. Now, even if I can't hit well, I think more about the team first because I'm a catcher. I believe that even if I don't perform offensively, the team winning is what matters most. As I go game by game with this mindset, I feel like I'm maturing."

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*This content was translated by AI.