'Let's Let Go of Everything, ERA 0.00' Sensation from Opening Day: What Changed for Lotte Rookie? "Whether I do well or not, I'm still a rookie" [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

Park Jung-min (23) of Lotte Giants, who had emerged as a rookie of the year candidate just one month into the season, began smiling on the mound again after letting go of the expectations that had weighed him down.

On June 29, Park was removed from the first-division roster for the first time since joining the professional league last year. It was his first period of reevaluation after being included in the opening-day roster and staying with the first division throughout.

According to the player himself, starting too well actually became a burden. Park graduated from Seodang Elementary, Maesong Middle School, Jangchung High School, and Hanil Christian University before donning the Lotte uniform as the 14th overall pick in the second round of the 2026 KBO Rookie Draft. He was immediately regarded as a ready-made asset thanks to his fastball clocking up to 152 km/h and his changeup.

In fact, from opening day through April, he recorded one win, one loss, five holds, and one save with an ERA of 3.60 in 14 games. He struck out 19 batters over 15 innings and was even mentioned as a rookie of the year candidate. His highlight came against the Samsung Lions in the opening game. Appearing in the bottom of the ninth inning with one out and a runner on first, he allowed a double to Lewin Diaz and hit Byung-woo Jeon, creating a bases-loaded crisis with one out. However, he struck out Young-woong Kim and Se-hyeok Park back-to-back to secure the save in his debut, causing a sensation as a college graduate.

But that strong start raised Park's own standards too high. When reflecting on the most impactful moment of the year, Park cited the opening-day save: "I went into a difficult situation with pressure from my very first appearance. Because the result was good, I think I kept putting pressure on myself, telling myself, 'I'm someone who can do this much. I have to do this much.'"

He added, "I know it's not an experience that comes easily. I truly believe I got a lot of luck. Just being able to leave such a strong impression in the opening game was something I'm grateful for. But as I set my standard there and kept pressuring myself to do even better, things gradually became harder."

As his thoughts multiplied, his performance on the mound wavered. His fastball control didn't go as planned, and in trying to avoid extra-base hits, he became overly conscious of corner pitches, leading to an increase in walks. His reliance on the changeup also made his patterns predictable to opposing batters.

As a result, Park spent exactly one month in the minor league from June 29 to July 29. His first experience with the second division was not simply a demotion. He recalled, "In the first division, every game is too important, making it difficult to deeply consider mechanics or technical aspects. In the minor league, there were periods when games were cancelled due to extreme heat, and I had the time to talk with coaches Kim Hyun-wook and Jin Hae-soo to find areas for technical improvement and practice."

What changed even more significantly was his mindset. Toward the end of the first half, Park himself admitted he felt "constantly being chased." Even as he realized his balance was off, games continued, and the pressure to perform well only grew.

After returning from the minor league, he changed his thinking. Park said, "I was lucky enough to stay with the first division since camp, and I also experienced the minor league toward the end of the first half. Senior players jokingly told me, 'You have to experience the minor league at least once,' and after spending nearly a month there, I was able to reflect deeply." He expressed gratitude to those seniors who helped ease his burden.

He continued, "I decided not to look only at the very top. After all, I'm a rookie. Whether I do well or not, I'm still a rookie. I've done well, and I've also failed badly. Just being able to have such diverse experiences in my first year as a professional is something I'm grateful for." He emphasized, "I simply decided to go out like a true rookie, throw with enthusiasm, and come down light-hearted."

The effect was clear. After returning to the first division on July 30, Park recorded one win, no losses, and an ERA of 0.00 in six games. He struck out eight batters over 6⅓ innings and issued only two walks. Even including two hit-by-pitches, his total number of walks plus hit-by-pitches remained at just four.

In particular, the struggles he faced earlier in the season against leadoff batters and when runners were on base have diminished compared to before. Park stated, "Now, whether there are runners on or not, it feels the same. I've definitely improved since the beginning of the season."

The help from senior players was also significant. Although he wasn't typically someone who sought advice first, this was different during his rookie season. He received guidance from seniors including Won-joong Kim, Do-hoon Hyun, Jun-yong Choi, and Jin-wook Kim on mental control techniques.

Park said, "There are many seniors with far more experience and skill than me, making it unnecessary to carry such a burden when playing baseball. Looking back now, I wasn't in a situation that warranted pressure." He added, "I've completely let go of the burden. I don't think I'm yet at a level where I should carry such pressure. I'm just grateful for every game and playing with that mindset."

Even the term "rookie of the year," which had followed him since the start of the season, is now something he has let go of. Park firmly stated, "At first, I heard a lot about the rookie of the year award. But now, focusing on achieving good results in each game rather than such goals is the right approach."

With everything let go, Park Jung-min's ERA remains 0.00.

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*This content was translated by AI.