Yang Eui-ji Successor? Ex-Catcher Joins 1st Team Camp – KBO Baseball

[OSEN=인천공항, 최규한 기자] The professional baseball Doosan Bears departed for Australia through Incheon Airport on the afternoon of the 23rd to prepare for the 2026 season. Doosan will hold the first camp in Sydney, Australia, and then the second camp in Miyazaki, Japan. Doosan’s Jun-ho Yoon is having a Q&A session with reporters. 2026.01.23 / [email protected]

Incheon International Airport was the launchpad for Doosan Bears catcher Yoon Jun-ho’s pursuit of a legendary legacy on January 23, 2026, as the team departed for spring training in Sydney, Australia. Is he the heir apparent to Yang Eui-ji, the ‘15.2 billion won legend’? That’s the question on everyone’s mind.

A Futures League Star Ascends

Yoon Jun-ho, 26, earned his spot on the first team spring training roster after a dominant performance in the Futures League. Discharged from mandatory military service on December 9 of last year, he quickly showcased his offensive prowess, posting a .3661 batting average and a 1.002 OPS. He’ll join established catchers Yang Eui-ji and Kim Ki-yeon at camp.

“I spent a lot of time with my family after my discharge and focused on getting back into shape,” Yoon shared at the airport. “I continued to work on maintaining what I did well during my time at Sangmu. Coach Jo In-seong emphasized lower body exercises, which I really focused on. The year and a half at Sangmu flew by, and now I’m ready to contribute to Doosan.”

From Military Service to Offensive Powerhouse

Yoon’s military service proved to be a turning point in his career, transforming him into an offensive threat behind the plate. In his first year in the Futures League, he hit .3227 with one home run and 11 RBIs in 34 games. Last year, he truly broke out, appearing in 91 games and leading the league with 114 hits, 11 home runs, 87 RBIs, 65 runs, a .563 slugging percentage, and a .439 on-base percentage. He ranked among the league leaders in multiple categories, including third in hits, fifth in batting average and runs scored, and seventh in home runs.

• Yoon Jun-ho’s 2025 Futures League stats: .306 batting average, 114 hits, 11 home runs, 87 RBIs.

“I had a great environment at Sangmu where I could fully concentrate on baseball,” Yoon explained. “I worked hard with my teammates in weight training and dedicated my free time to individual baseball practice. The manager and coach provided a lot of support, but ultimately, I developed a stronger sense of self through consistent playing time.”

[OSEN=고척, 박준형 기자] On the afternoon of the 1st, the first 2025 KBO Futures League championship match between KT Wiz and Sangmu was held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. In the semifinals of the 2025 Futures League championship held on the 29th of last month, KT, ranked second in the Southern League, achieved a 10-6 comeback victory over Hanwha Eagles, ranked first in the Northern League. Sangmu, ranked 1st in the Southern League, defeated the LG Twins, ranked 2nd in the Northern League, 5-2 and each succeeded in advancing to the finals. With one out and 1st and 2nd bases in the bottom of the 5th inning, Sangmu Yoon Jun-ho is celebrating after hitting a hit. 2025.10.01 / [email protected]

Defensive Confidence and a Familiar Face

While his offensive numbers are impressive, Yoon also expressed confidence in his defensive abilities. “I think my defense has improved significantly and become more refined,” he said. “Coach Lee Jeong-sik provided strict but valuable instruction, and I learned a lot about the nuances of catching.”

Before joining Doosan, Yoon gained recognition on the baseball entertainment program ‘The Strongest Baseball,’ playing both catcher and infielder alongside Ryu Hyun-in (KT Wiz) on a team led by former manager Seung-yeop Lee. He was drafted by Doosan in the 5th round of the 2023 rookie draft after receiving guidance from veteran players like Park Yong-taek, Jeong Geun-woo, and Yoo Hee-gwan.

Yoon was the only rookie to participate in Doosan’s first spring camp in Sydney, Australia, in 2024, where battery coach Yuji Serizawa praised his strong arm as the best on the team. After a brief stint with the first team (.255 batting average in three games), he entered Sangmu.

The Weight of Expectation

The question of succeeding Yang Eui-ji looms large. “I’m grateful for the interest and expectations, but honestly, it felt burdensome whenever Yang Eui-ji’s name was mentioned,” Yoon admitted. “It’s a huge responsibility.”

He’s aiming to surpass Kim Ki-yeon, who stepped up during Yang Eui-ji’s military service. Yoon will be rooming with Kim Ki-yeon in Sydney, and plans to learn from the veteran. “Ki-yeon is better than me in many ways, so I plan to ask him a lot of questions and absorb his experience. I hope we can create good synergy together.”

[OSEN=이대선 기자] Futures All Star Managing Director Junho Yoon 2025.07.11 /[email protected]

Looking Ahead

Yoon acknowledges his limited experience at the first-team level but is eager to prove himself. “I don’t have much first-team experience, so I need to see how my performance translates,” he said. “I want to play the same baseball I played at Sangmu and see how good I can be. Regardless of my Futures League record, I plan to approach the first-team stage with the same mindset.”

He understands the expectations are high. “There’s a lot of interest, and I need to deliver a performance that lives up to it. I feel a sense of burden and responsibility at the same time.” Yoon’s primary goal for the 2026 season is simple: to earn as much playing time on the first team as possible.

Lee Hu-gwang ([email protected])