"I almost became a Kiwoom fan because of Kim Hye-seong." A die-hard Hanwha fan who switched to batting left-handed following Jung Eun-won has become a five-tool shortstop at Deoksu High School [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

"I almost switched my allegiance to Kiwoom because of Kim Hye-seong."

Hong Ju-yong (17), an infielder at Deoksu High School who has been selected as the next team captain, revealed a dizzying experience where he nearly changed his team loyalty.

According to the Korea Baseball and Softball Association (KBSA) standards, Hong Ju-yong stands 183 cm tall and weighs 75 kg. He is a right-handed pitcher and left-handed batter who plays infield with a solid build, fast speed, and reliable defense. When StarNews met Hong Ju-yong recently at the Deoksu High School field, he explained that it was Jung Eun-won (26, Hanwha) who changed him from a right-handed batter to a left-handed batter.

Hong Ju-yong said, "I have been a huge Hanwha fan since I was young. My grandfather liked Hanwha first, and my father, mother, and three younger siblings (one younger brother and two younger sisters) are all generations of Hanwha fans." He added, "I really admired Jung Eun-won. It looked so cool that he batted left-handed, and my father also told me that batting left-handed is advantageous in baseball, so I switched."

Even such a devoted Hanwha fan faced a crisis once. Kim Hye-seong (27, Los Angeles Dodgers), who has advanced to Major League Baseball (MLB) based on his excellent athletic ability and wide defensive range, was the cause. Hong Ju-yong laughed, saying, "When I go pro, I want to meet both Jung Eun-won and Kim Hye-seong. Actually, Kim Hye-seong's playing style is so cool that I almost became a Kiwoom fan."

The baseball boy who grew up watching two top-level KBO League infielders has now become a promising prospect catching the eyes of KBO League scouts. Although he is still in his second year, Hong Ju-yong has recorded a batting average of 0.295 (88 at-bats, 26 hits), five doubles, three triples, two home runs, 27 RBIs, five stolen bases, an on-base percentage of 0.370, a slugging percentage of 0.489, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.859 in 26 games this year.

At the 2026 Shinsegae E-Mart Cup National High School Baseball Tournament held earlier this year, he won the RBI award by surpassing formidable seniors. A KBO scout explained, "Among Deoksu High's second-year players, Hong Ju-yong stands out clearly. He is a shortstop of a different type from Eom Jun-sang. While Eom Jun-sang stood out for his explosive power, Hong Ju-yong is a shortstop whose strength lies in his speed."

The first round of the 54th Bonghwangdae National High School Baseball Tournament held on the 8th at Seoul Guri Baseball Park against Daegu Buk-gu SC was a game that fully revealed Hong Ju-yong's strengths. Starting as the seventh batter and shortstop, Hong Ju-yong reached base three times in just one inning in the fourth, including a double steal following an infield hit and two ground-rule home runs. Thanks to this, Deoksu High scored 21 runs in the fourth inning alone and defeated Daegu Buk-gu SC with a 42-0 cold game victory in the fifth inning.

This performance filled the gap left by Captain Eom Jun-sang (18), who recently succeeded in signing an international contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks of MLB. Deoksu High's head coach Jung Yun-jin (55) has selected Hong Ju-yong as next year's captain and shortstop to succeed Eom Jun-sang.

Coach Jung stated, "Hong Ju-yong is fast on the bases and has a strong arm. He also has clutch ability, having won the RBI award at the E-Mart Cup. While his power hitting still lacks strength compared to Eom Jun-sang, if he undergoes sufficient weight training this winter, he is a player who can be expected to hit five home runs next year. His defense is reliable and his mentality is strong, so I consider him a five-tool player."

The start of this large-scale prospect, expected to be highly drafted in next year's KBO Rookie Draft, was surprisingly simple. In the fourth grade of elementary school, when he played both soccer and baseball, the baseball uniform looked so cool to him. He laughed, saying, "In soccer, you wear shorts, but in baseball, you wear a full uniform from top to bottom, which looked so cool. I wanted to try wearing it once, so I started playing baseball."

After getting into baseball, he became completely captivated by Jung Eun-won's batting style and Kim Hye-seong's playing style. Coincidentally, the strengths of Kim Hye-seong—his speed and defense—are exactly what Hong Ju-yong is most confident in today.

Hong Ju-yong introduced himself, saying, "My strength lies in getting on base frequently with my fast speed and precise contact. On the bases, I am a persistent player who tries to shake up opponents through base running and strives to reach one more base whenever possible. Next year, my goal is to grow into a middle-to-long-distance hitter by increasing my power hitting."

His strong attachment to defense closely resembles that of senior Eom Jun-sang. He also consistently watches defensive videos of Genda Sosuke (33, Seibu Lions), a top-level shortstop in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). This started after Coach Chae Jong-guk (51), whom he met at the KBO Next Level Camp earlier this year, encouraged him to study them because his long-limbed physique and defensive style are similar.

Hong Ju-yong shared, "Since I was young, I have always liked defense more than batting. Batting can be good or bad, but if you play defense well, you get another chance. You can also step up to the plate one more time. So I think and believe that playing defense well is essential."

He further emphasized, "(Eom) Jun-sang hyung often gives me a lot of advice. After returning from the United States this time, he said that all American players start with their heels off the ground. I also consider the first step extremely important, so when starting, I try to move out as quickly as half a step by observing the pitcher's pitch type and the ball's direction."

Ahead of his final national tournament in his second year, he finds himself in a position where he cannot just play baseball on his own. The responsibility of being next year's captain at Deoksu High awaits him. However, he does not want to be a captain who stands out and shines only by himself.

Hong Ju-yong said firmly, "I do not play baseball to stand out. I have learned that I must play baseball in a way that helps the team as much as possible. If I quietly help my teammates from behind, someday I will naturally become noticeable. Also, since there are so many excellent captain seniors above me, I think I should continue that tradition well."

The baseball boy who longed to face KBO's top pitcher An Woo-jin (28) mentioned his parents' names when asked if he had anything else he wanted to say. His parents, who support all four siblings including his younger brother who also plays baseball, are a solid support team.

Hong Ju-yong expressed, "I want to convey my gratitude to my parents who have always taken care of us siblings. I am truly grateful to Coach Jung Yun-jin for guiding us diligently." He added, "If I go pro, I really want to face senior An Woo-jin. His pitches are so fast that he is a player I really want to beat once."

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*This content was translated by AI.