"I will not go to the U.S." Eom Jun-sang, one of the 'KBO Big 3' who had rejected MLB offers until the day before, suddenly changed his mind overnight: [Pohang On-site Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

Eom Jun-sang (18), who set his sights on challenging Major League Baseball (MLB), revealed the story behind his decision reversal within a single night.

Since his freshman year at Deoksu High School, Eom has been recognized as a promising two-way player with natural baseball instincts, drawing attention from both KBO and MLB scouts. As a pitcher, he throws a fastball reaching up to 153 km/h and demonstrates exceptional ability in mastering breaking balls, making him highly anticipated as a starting pitcher.

His strong arm and unique finger dexterity further shone as an infielder. Despite not having particularly fast footwork, his powerful throwing arm and smooth defensive movements earned him evaluations that he could handle shortstop duties at the professional level. As a batter, his quick swing speed and one-hit power potential also led to recognition of his talent.

As a result, last year as a sophomore, he won the "Mirastar Award" at the 2025 Futures Star Awards. Along with Ha Hyun-seung (18, Busan High) and Kim Ji-woo (18, Seoul High), he is now being highlighted as one of the Big 3 prospects competing for the first overall pick in the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft scheduled for September this year.

However, on the 17th of last month, Eom chose to head straight to the U.S. by signing a $1.5 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks of the National League West. The $1.5 million received by Eom ranks as the third-highest amateur signing bonus for a Korean player in history, following Sungkyunkwan University's Kim Byung-hyun's $2.25 million in 1999 and Deoksu High's Ryu Je-guk's $1.6 million in 2001. Even KBO club officials could not help but react to Arizona's unprecedented offer.

It wasn't just about the money. When Eom met with StarNews at Pohang Sports Ground on the 22nd, he reflected: "The fact that an MLB team offered me $1.5 million meant they saw potential in me and evaluated me as a promising player." He added, "But it wasn't only about the money. Arizona showed sincere determination to bring me there, and if my dream is to become a major leaguer, I thought it would be better to face and compete against players I will have to overcome in the future first."

He was not without concerns about the KBO League. As recently as early this year, Eom aimed for the number one overall pick in the entire KBO and had actually rejected Arizona's offer. "I made my final decision in early June," Eom said. "Offers started coming in from April, and we kept discussing and deliberating. Then, on the day before the weekend league game against Seoul Convention High School (June 6), I told them I would not go to Arizona. But the next morning, as I prepared for the game, I still felt lingering doubts."

He continued, "I believed that no matter what choice I made, I shouldn't regret it. The U.S. stage might not be accessible later, so I kept thinking I should seize the opportunity while I can to avoid future regrets. I started wanting to go to the U.S., and on that day (June 6), I told them again that I would go."

The environment of the Arizona team he traveled to for medical testing and contract signing ensured he wouldn't regret his choice. He trained in defense with shortstop Gerardo Perdomo, worked on hitting with infielder Idemaro Vargas, and had conversations with Gold Glove third baseman Nolan Arenado.

Eom stated, "I went there myself, and the facilities were truly excellent. The field conditions were so good that during defensive drills, not a single error occurred. I felt that playing defense on such a field would be more enjoyable and boost my confidence." He emphasized, "To adapt, I will work hard on language studies. I'll start by talking more to locals to get used to the environment."

Even after confirming his move to the U.S., Captain Eom will continue participating in remaining national tournaments such as the Cheongryonggi Cup, President's Cup, and Bonghwangdae Cup with Deoksu High School. On this day, Eom started at third spot in the batting order and played shortstop in the second round of the 60th President's Cup National High School Baseball Tournament against Masan Yongma High School at Pohang Sports Ground. He recorded two hits, one RBI, and three runs in four at-bats, leading Deoksu to a 10-5 victory.

Both teams engaged in a grueling four-hour and twenty-minute battle amid an extreme heat warning issued across the entire Pohang area, exchanging a total of 26 hits. In the bottom of the first inning with one out and runners on second base, Eom hit a two-run double down the left-field line to score the first run. In the top of the third inning with one out, he hit a double between left and center field, signaling the start of a four-run big inning. He declared, "Right now, I am still a high school student belonging to Deoksu High School. For the remaining period, I will work hard like any other student, aligning myself with the team."

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*This content was translated by AI.