*This content was translated by AI.
The moment the ball slipped through the infield, all the home fans in Taiwan let out a unified roar. But shortstop Eom Jun-sang (18, Deoksu High) was different. He leaped to snag the batted ball with a backhand throw and then fired it accurately to first base while running. It was a moment that showed why Major League Baseball (MLB) views Eom as a shortstop.
Eom Jun-sang is currently participating in the 14th Asian Youth Baseball Championship being held in Taiwan as captain of the South Korean U-18 national baseball team.
The most striking scene came from the opening group stage match against host nation Taiwan on the 7th. Starting pitcher Ha Hyun-seung (18, Busan High) allowed a triple to the right field by Chang Yi-an in the bottom of the first inning with two outs. It was the first scoring crisis after a 0-0 tie. Then, the fourth batter Huang Shiyao hit a powerful ball that seemed to split the infield after a full-count battle.
That was when Eom Jun-sang appeared. He moved along with the batted ball, caught it with a backhand, and threw it to first base while still in motion. Although he had no time to fully stabilize his body's center of gravity, the ball landed precisely in the first baseman's mitt.
Thanks to this defensive play that averted the crisis, Ha Hyun-seung went on to deliver an overwhelming performance with 5⅔ innings, two hits allowed, and 12 strikeouts without allowing any runs. South Korea defeated Taiwan 2-0, securing the most critical first match of this tournament. The play instantly revealed his explosive first step, batted ball judgment, handling skills, and strong arm.
Eom Jun-sang's presence extended beyond defense. With the score tied 0-0 in the top of the sixth inning with one out and runners on second and third bases, he hit a ground ball to shortstop, bringing runner Nam Hyun-woo home from third base to score the go-ahead run. After Ha Hyun-seung was pulled due to reaching the pitch limit of 90 pitches, Eom himself climbed onto the mound. He induced a ground ball to the second baseman with his first pitch to end the sixth inning. In the seventh, he threw a fastball clocked at 149 km/h, allowed one hit, then picked off a runner and recorded two consecutive strikeouts.
This game demonstrated why the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB) signed Eom Jun-sang for $1.5 million (approximately 2 billion won).
Scouts' evaluations were exceptional from an early stage. He stood out as a freshman and won the "Miracle Star Award" at the "2025 Futures Star Awards" during his sophomore year last year. One KBO scout described Eom Jun-sang, saying, "He simply plays baseball well," adding that "his intuitive skills are outstanding, and his strong arm capable of playing shortstop is his greatest strength."
Baseball sense also shines in defense. According to the Korea Baseball & Softball Association (KBSA) standards, Eom Jun-sang stands 184 cm tall and weighs 85 kg, so he is not a shortstop with an overwhelming physique. Evaluations among scouts varied slightly regarding his defensive range and footwork. However, there was almost no disagreement about his batted ball judgment, handling skills, strong arm, and throwing accuracy.
Above all, his passion for defense is exceptional. Recently, repetitive defensive training has been difficult to attract as much interest from young players as batting practice. Unlike batting, immediate visible results are hard to come by, and players must endure countless batted balls while repeating the same motions over and over.
Eom Jun-sang is different. In an interview with StarNews earlier this year, he said, "I tend to enjoy defense. Even if training focuses on defense, it's fun so I don't feel tired." He emphasized, "My defensive range isn't extremely wide, but I'm confident in my first step. Also, because I have a bit more confidence in my quickness and batted ball judgment, I play defensively with a challenging mindset."
The play seen against Taiwan in the first inning was exactly as Eom Jun-sang described. Instead of waiting head-on, he judged the direction where the ball would escape and moved accordingly. He caught it with a backhand and made a powerful throw even from a difficult posture. The strengths scouts identified for Eom were not just his strong arm but also his throwing accuracy, batted ball prediction, and handling skills.
Another KBO scout evaluated, "Eom Jun-sang doesn't just have a strong arm; his throwing accuracy is also good. While footwork may be a matter of personal preference, he can cover it with his ability to measure the bounce and handling skills."
He then mentioned Kang Jung-ho as a similar type. He was a shortstop who created outs on difficult batted balls not with flashy footwork but with a strong arm and quick handling. Coincidentally, Eom Jun-sang's defensive role model is also Kang Jung-ho.
As a pitcher, he has talent enough to throw up to 153 km/h. Even while dedicating his training ratio at 90% position player and 10% pitcher and serving as the starting shortstop for Deoksu High, he climbed onto the mound whenever crises arose this year, posting excellent stats across seven games: three wins, one loss, an ERA of 2.65, 17⅓ innings pitched, three walks, 18 strikeouts, and a WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) of 1.18. Lee Beon (CEO) team's closer role was also entrusted to him, who possesses the best control and the greatest ability to handle institutional investors' pressure.
However, the position Eom Jun-sang shows the most affection for is not the mound but the shortstop spot. That is why he was drawn to Arizona's proposal to develop him as a shortstop.
Another high school shortstop with exceptional defensive talent may emerge in the future. However, it is rare for a high school student to enjoy the arduous defensive training itself and say, "I definitely want to play shortstop even in the pros." This explains why Eom Jun-sang's fantasy backhand running throw against Taiwan does not seem like mere chance.
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*This content was translated by AI.
