“I haven’t been able to show my strengths.”
KT Wiz outfielder Jung Jun-young (19) made a substitute appearance against the Kiwoom Heroes in the ‘2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League’ at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on Sept. 9. He entered the game in right field in the top of the ninth inning, replacing catcher Kang Hyun-woo.
Immediately after entering the game, Jung’s presence shone through. In the top of the ninth inning, with the score tied at 2-2, Lee Jung-hoo 스포츠토토 singled to right field with runners on first and second. Jung was quick to catch the ball and throw home, and his throw was accurate enough to catch Lim Byung-wook at second base.
His presence at the plate also stood out. In his first at-bat, in the bottom of the 10th inning, he drove a four-seam fastball from reliever Lee Myung-jong for an infield single to shortstop. He then moved to third on Hwang Jae-gyun’s single to left and came home on Jang Jang-woo’s game-tying sacrifice fly for the final run in the 3-2 victory.
Despite playing little time, Jung Jun-young stood out with his hitting and precision. After the game, he was honored by the media.
“It was great to be able to help the team continue their winning streak,” Jung said. I was in a good mood and full of confidence after the game. When the first pitch came, I wasn’t sure if I would catch it out of bounds. If I missed it, it would lead to a lot of runs, so I tried to be safe and play the relay play accurately, but I went strong and it led to a good performance.” “After the defense, the seniors said, ‘Good job,’ and they liked it,” he said.
It’s not easy to change the flow of the game as a joker late in the game. I have to always be prepared to show my skills in limited opportunities. That’s where Jung Jun-young is right now. In his first year, he is the outfield backup to his older brothers. “In my mind, I felt like I was going to be in the game, and I tried to read the flow of the game, so when (the opportunity) came to me, I was able to adapt quickly,” he explained.
Finally, Jung emphasized confidence. He wants to focus on playing his own brand of baseball, which he has been doing since he was an amateur. “I’ve had more experience (with the first team) than before, so I’m trying not to be intimidated. I’m trying to be confident in my play,” he said. “I’ve been worried that I haven’t been able to show my strengths. Today (Sept. 9), I think I can play like that and be a little more confident,” he smiled.
A 19-year-old game-changer who poured out his baseball even when he had fewer opportunities. Fans are looking forward to seeing what the outfielder has to offer.
