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Bears infielder Park Jun-soon helps team break four-game losing streak

Published: 06 Apr. 2026, 14:12 Updated: 06 Apr. 2026, 17:57

Doosan Bears’ Park Jun-soon hits the ball during a game against the Hanwha Eagles at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Songpa District, southern Seoul, on April 5. [DOOSAN BEARS]

Park Jun-soon’s week could have gone terribly.

Instead, two days after defensive mistakes put him under pressure, the Doosan Bears infielder responded at the plate on Sunday.

Park went 4-for-4 with a home run, a triple and three RBIs in the Bears’ 8-0 win over the Hanwha Eagles at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Songpa District, southern Seoul.

The turning point came in the fifth inning. With one out and runners on first and third in a scoreless game, Park hit a three-run homer to left field to put the Bears ahead for good. The win ended the team’s four-game losing streak.

Park finished a double short of the cycle and raised his batting average to .474, standing out in a lineup that has struggled overall.

Doosan Bears’ Park Jun-soon celebrates during a game against the Hanwha Eagles at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Songpa District, southern Seoul, on April 5. [DOOSAN BEARS]

The performance followed a difficult stretch. Park committed key errors while starting at second base in games against the Eagles on Friday and Saturday.

Manager Kim Won-hyung removed some of that pressure on Sunday by using Park as a designated hitter.

“Park Jun-soon was just 19 years old and a rookie last year,” Kim said in an interview before the game. “Back then, he played without really knowing much, but now he’s at an important point, in which he has to establish himself as a regular.”

Park entered the KBO as a first-round pick — the first infielder selected by the Bears in that round since Hur Kyoung-min, now with KT Wiz, in 2009.

He earned regular playing time as a rookie and remains part of the first-team roster this season.

“He’s feeling pressure because of the errors, and if that builds up, it can hurt him. For now, I want him to focus on what he does well, so I used him as a designated hitter,” Kim added.

The manager also met with Park before the game to check on his condition and encourage him. “Just focus on what you do best,” he told the infielder, according to team sources.

Doosan Bears’ Park Jun-soon, who had four hits and three RBIs including a game-winning home run, is seen during the game against the Hanwha Eagles at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Songpa District, southern Seoul, on April 5. [DOOSAN BEARS]

Park said he received support “not just from the manager, but from the coaches and older players who told [him] they all went through the same thing.”

“That really helped me,” he said.

After the game, Park stopped reporters as they were leaving, as he had something he “absolutely” wanted to share.

He used the moment to thank teammate Kim Min-suk.

“[He] bought me meat to cheer me up. I think that helped me hit well, so I wanted to say thank you.”

Kim Min-suk had taken Park out for a meal after Saturday’s game.

When asked how much they ate, Park gave an exact figure — “108,000 won” ($72) — drawing laughs from those around him.

He also mentioned outfielder Jo Soo-haeng, who bought him breakfast from a burger chain for two consecutive days.

“[He] got [breakfast] for me to cheer me up. I played well after eating, so maybe I should make it part of my routine,” Park said with a smile.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY BAE YOUNG-EUN [[email protected]]