'You catch that and get an out?' Even Taiwan was stirred by Jun Sang's phantom shortstop defense; the reason behind MLB's $2 billion investment

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The moment a ball slipped through the infield, Taiwanese home fans all shouted in unison. But shortstop Eom Jun-sang (18, Deoksu High) was different. He leaped to snag the batted ball with a backhand and made an accurate running throw to first base. It was a moment that showed why Major League Baseball (MLB) viewed 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 Korean U-18 national baseball team.

The most striking scene came from the group stage's first match against host nation Taiwan on the 7th. Starting pitcher Ha Hyun-seung (18, Busan High) allowed a three-base hit to 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 Shih-yao, hit a powerful ball that seemed to split the infield after a full-count battle.

That was when Eom Jun-sang appeared. He moved to follow 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 pitch 5⅔ innings with only two hits allowed and 12 strikeouts without giving up a run, showcasing overwhelming dominance. Korea also defeated Taiwan 2-0, securing the most critical first game 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 shortstop ground ball to bring home runner Nam Hyun-woo from third base, scoring the go-ahead run. Then, when Ha Hyun-seung was pulled after reaching the pitch limit of 90 pitches, Eom himself climbed onto the mound. He induced a second baseman's ground ball with his first pitch to end the sixth inning. In the seventh, he threw a fastball clocked at 149 km/h, allowed one hit, 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 had given him exceptional evaluations from early on. 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 by saying, "He just plays baseball well," adding, "His intuitive sense is outstanding, and his strong arm capable of playing shortstop is his biggest strength."

Baseball instinct also shows in defense. According to the Korea Baseball and Softball Association (KBSA) standards, Eom Jun-sang stands 184 cm tall and weighs 85 kg, so he is not a shortstop with overwhelming physical stature. 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 extraordinary. Recently, repetitive defensive training is difficult to generate as much interest among 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. He told StarNews earlier this year, "I tend to like defense. Even with training focused on defense, it's fun so I don't feel tired," and emphasized, "My defensive range isn't incredibly wide, but I'm confident in my first step. Also, I have a bit more confidence in my quickness and batted ball judgment, so I play defensively in a challenging manner."

The play Eom Jun-sang made in the first inning against Taiwan was exactly as he 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 strong throw even from a difficult posture. The strengths scouts evaluated for Eom Jun-sang 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. His footwork may be a matter of personal preference, but he can cover it with his ability to measure the bounce and his handling skills."

He then mentioned Kang Jung-ho as a similar type. He was a shortstop who turned difficult batted balls into outs with a strong arm and quick handling rather than flashy footwork. Coincidentally, Eom Jun-sang's defensive role model is also Kang Jung-ho.

As a pitcher, he has talent enough to throw at speeds up to 153 km/h per hour. Although his training ratio was set at nine parts position player and one part pitcher while serving as the starting shortstop for Deoksu High, he climbed onto the mound whenever crises arose this year, posting excellent results in seven games with 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 was also entrusted to him, who has the best control and excellent ability to handle institutional investors.

However, the place where Eom Jun-sang shows the most affection is not the mound but the shortstop position. That is why he was drawn to Arizona's proposal to develop him as a shortstop.

Another high school shortstop with excellent defensive talent may emerge in the future. However, it is extraordinary for a high school student to enjoy the difficult training itself and say, "I definitely want to play shortstop even in the pros." This is why Eom Jun-sang's phantom backhand running throw against Taiwan does not seem like a coincidence.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original