For Yoon Jun-ho, who is serving in the military at the Sangmu, the titles 'the second Yang Eui-ji' and 'the successor of Yang Eui-ji' serve as great motivation. Since Yang Eui-ji is not just a starting catcher for any team but represents Korean professional baseball, Yoon Jun-ho sweats heavily in Mun-gyeong today to overcome that pressure.
Last weekend, Yoon Jun-ho visited the Daejeon Hanwha Life Eagles Park to attend the KBO Futures All-Star Game and shared an update, saying, 'I've been doing well in the military. Thanks to doing a lot of weight training, my body has grown a bit. My weight has only increased by about 1 kg, but my body fat has decreased significantly, and my muscle mass has increased. As a result of adapting well to the new environment, I now have 5 months left until I am discharged.'
Yoon Jun-ho, who graduated from Gyeongnam High School and Dong-Eui University, was selected 49th overall in the 5th round of the 2023 rookie draft by Doosan. Before the selection, he appeared on the baseball variety show 'Strongest Baseball,' where he participated with fellow athletes Ryu Hyun-in (KT Wiz) and played as a catcher and infielder, respectively, building his reputation. Through guidance from baseball veterans like Park Yong-taek, Jung Geun-woo, Yoo Hee-kwan, Jung Sung-hoon, and Sim Soo-chang at that time, he showed growth and realized his dream of becoming a professional athlete amidst national interest.
Yoon Jun-ho participated as the only rookie player in the Doosan's first spring camp held in Sydney, Australia, in his first year. At that time, battery coach Serija and Yu-ji praised him, saying, 'Yoon Jun-ho's strength is his strong arm. I think he has the strongest arm among our team's catchers.' Nevertheless, the barrier to becoming a professional player was high, and after spending his first year only in the second team, he headed to the military after recording a batting average of .250 with 1 RBI in 3 games in the first team in 2024.
Since joining the Sangmu, Yoon Jun-ho has become a completely different player from the Yoon Jun-ho we have seen so far. Last year, he heated up his bat in the Futures League with a batting average of .327 in 34 games, hitting 1 home run and 11 RBIs, and this year he's been explosive in the second team, recording a batting average of .369 in 56 games with 8 home runs, 57 RBIs, 44 runs, a slugging percentage of .606, an on-base percentage of .460, and an OPS of 1.066.
What has changed? Yoon Jun-ho explained, 'I joined the military with the mindset of learning baseball all over again. After joining, I think my skills improved as I listened to the many pieces of advice from the coach, fellow soldiers, and others. I'm learning so much from battery coach Lee Jung-sik. I'm really grateful.' He added, 'What the coach emphasizes is to eat well and rest well while training. It’s natural in the Sangmu, so I sleep and eat on time, which has improved my conditioning. It’s an environment where I can focus solely on baseball.'
Yoon Jun-ho keeps an eye on Doosan baseball whenever he has a chance in the military. He is also preparing for his career after discharge through image training, always imagining, 'What if I had been in that position?'
Yoon Jun-ho said, 'I can't watch Doosan baseball every day, but if it's on TV in the evening, I watch it and always check the results.' He added, 'When I see a vacancy in backup for senior Yang Eui-ji, I think, 'What if I were there?', 'I want to play too,' but honestly, before joining the military, I was lacking beyond opportunities. I want to do well in baseball after I get discharged.'
Another motivating term for soldier Yoon Jun-ho is 'the successor of Yang Eui-ji.' Every time he plays under the Sangmu banner, seeing the title 'the successor of Yang Eui-ji' in the headlines leaves him with an indescribable weight. Yoon Jun-ho stated, 'I am really grateful for the kind words from those around me. However, having senior Yang Eui-ji's name before mine is certainly not light. It’s a name and modifier that carries weight. I will strive to overcome that burden.'
Yoon Jun-ho, who will be discharged on December 9, will soon have to participate in a survival audition to select the second Yang Eui-ji starting from the spring camp next February. Yoon Jun-ho remarked, 'People say that after leaving the Sangmu, there's nowhere left to escape. That seems right to me,' and added, 'I want to show that I've prepared well in the military to return to Doosan. That’s how I can get opportunities for next season. I will prepare well according to the routine I followed here for the spring camp and exhibition games.'
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