Dankook University
However, Ma decided to enter the Eagles after graduation from college and continued to play baseball at Dankook University in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do. During his collegiate years at Dankook University, Ma was considered one of the top sidearm/submarine pitchers along with Chong Tae-Hyon of Kyung Hee University. As a sophomore, he was first called up to the South Korea national baseball team for the 3-Nations Invitational Baseball Tournament held in Taiwan.