"I thought I wouldn't get picked if I went to the U.S.…": ARI shortstop Eom Jun-sang, who secured a spot on the national team, has also taken on the role of captain. "I hope to return with great synergy and be warmly welcomed." [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

Eom Jun-sang (18, Deoksu High), who has confirmed his entry into Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States, shared his thoughts and determination about wearing the national team jersey again.

Eom Jun-sang was selected for the South Korean U-18 national baseball team to compete in the 14th Asian Youth Baseball Championship in Taipei, Taiwan, from September 7 to 13. Jung Yun-jin (55), the Deoksu High School coach who is leading the national team for the first time in 13 years, appointed Eom Jun-sang as captain.

Eom Jun-sang is a top prospect representing high school baseball this year. He is a pitcher capable of throwing at speeds up to 153 km/h and is also evaluated as a two-way player who can play shortstop in the professional leagues. Originally considered one of the "Big Three" competing for the first overall pick in the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft alongside Ha Hyun-seung (18, Busan High) and Kim Ji-woo (18, Seoul High), he chose to head straight to the U.S. by signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks in June for $1.5 million (approximately 2.1 billion won). This is the third-largest contract for a Korean amateur player after Kim Byung-hyun's $2.25 million in 1999 and Ryu Jae-kook's $1.6 million in 2001.

Rather than being confident about his selection, Eom Jun-sang admitted he was unsure. Meeting with StarNews at Ulsan Munsu Baseball Stadium recently, Eom Jun-sang said honestly, "I didn't actually think I would be selected for the national team. I just hoped to get picked. If I were selected, I thought I should work hard; if not, I should prepare well to go to the U.S."

However, the Korea Baseball and Softball Association (KBSA) assembled its best possible roster regardless of whether players were heading to the U.S. Not only Eom Jun-sang but also Ha Hyun-seung, who turned down active recruitment offers from MLB clubs to choose a path in the KBO, made the team. A national team official stated, "We tried our best to build the strongest possible team regardless of their plans to go to the U.S."

This selection also holds special meaning for Eom Jun-sang. He said, "I don't know when I'll be able to wear the national team jersey again if I go to the U.S., so becoming a national player once more was an immense honor. I am grateful."

This is not his first time as a national team member. Last year, as a sophomore, he was selected for the U-18 national team and experienced the international stage as the youngest member alongside Ha Hyun-seung. Back then, his main feeling was to work hard following the seniors, but this year he is the captain who must lead his teammates.

Last year's regret also strengthened his sense of responsibility. The Ji Nan-hae (CEO) team failed to win a medal, and Eom Jun-sang himself was not satisfied. In particular, the mistakes made in the third-place playoff game remained on his mind. Seniors who played with him last year encouraged Eom Jun-sang, who is wearing the national jersey again this year, saying, "Bring back a medal this time."

Eom Jun-sang explained, "Last year, because I couldn't hit well, I became anxious. This year, I think that anxiety will be somewhat less. I have experienced hitting poorly at the beginning of the season and then getting back on track. In this tournament, instead of panicking because I'm not hitting well, I want to approach it with the thought that 'I can hit too.'"

This time, he will contribute not only as a shortstop but also as a closer. Coach Jung Yun-jin announced plans to utilize Eom Jun-sang's two-way abilities depending on the situation on the mound. This is because Kim Ji-woo, another two-way player with powerful fastball velocity, was forced out of the national team due to injury, leaving only six pitchers available. Eom Jun-sang also said, "I continued doing catch and throwing pitches. I probably won't throw many innings, maybe around 1 or 2 innings at most."

However, Eom Jun-sang believes that the responsibility of being captain extends beyond his own performance or the game itself. This year, more high school baseball prospects are choosing to go directly to the U.S. Recently, Nam Hyun-woo (18), a shortstop at Seoul Convention High School who decided to join the Detroit Tigers, sought advice from Eom Jun-sang, who had already made the decision to go to the U.S. while contemplating his own career path. Furthermore, he continues to receive contact from peers of the same age who are considering going to the U.S.

Eom Jun-sang said, "Since it is each player's life, I don't think it's something where I can tell them 'Go to the U.S.' or say whether it's good or bad. I talk about the pros and cons of being in the U.S. versus staying in Korea. Having been to the U.S. myself, I felt both the good and difficult aspects, and I also saw that there are many players who play baseball very well. I try not to lean too much toward either side."

He also hopes that his move to the U.S. becomes one of the options for other prospects. Therefore, this national team jersey is even more important. Eom Jun-sang said firmly, "I hope that when juniors see me going to the U.S., they won't be afraid to go there themselves. I want to be a good example. It's good if I shine, but I want to show my hard work and achieve good results for the team so that people get the impression that 'even players who went to the U.S. can create great synergy when playing together in the national team.'"

From the youngest member of the Ji Nan-hae (CEO) team last year to this year's captain, and from a top candidate for the first overall pick in the KBO draft to a prospect with $1.5 million invested by Arizona, Eom Jun-sang's position has changed significantly within a year. However, his final goal set while wearing the national jersey was simple.

Eom Jun-sang stated confidently, "I hope everyone can return on the plane smiling. I want to achieve good results so that when we return home, there will be a welcoming atmosphere."

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*This content was translated by AI.