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Hanwha faces a crucial three-game series against both KIA Tigers and Hanwha Eagles. Two of Hanwha’s key pitchers, who are veterans and the future of the team, have also returned.
On the 18th at 7 p.m., Hanwha will play a regular-season home game against KIA at Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.
Hanwha currently sits alone in sixth place with 48 wins, 53 losses, and 3 ties. The gap to fifth-place Doosan Bears, who hold a spot in the playoff race, has already widened to six games. With exactly 40 games remaining this season including today’s matchup, Hanwha urgently needs to turn things around with a winning streak. The team is currently on a three-game losing skid.
In response, KIA recorded 56 wins, 48 losses, and 2 ties this season, ranking them alone in fourth place. KIA is chasing third-place LG Twins by just 1.5 games. Having recently acquired new closer Lee Ui-ri, the team is on a two-game winning streak and gaining momentum.
For today’s game, Hanwha set its starting lineup as follows: Choi In-ho (center fielder), Peraza (right fielder), Moon Hyun-bin (left fielder), Kang Baek-ho (designated hitter), Noh Si-hwan (third baseman), Chae Eun-seong (first baseman), Heo In-seo (catcher), Lee Do-yoon (second baseman), and Sim Woo-jun (shortstop). The starting pitcher is Taiwan national team pitcher Wang Yencheng.
Additionally, Hanwha called up pitchers Kim Seo-hyun, Jung Woo-ju, and Hwang Young-mok to the first division roster.
Before the game, Hanwha Manager Kim Kyung-moon spoke with reporters about how he plans to use the two pitchers: “Initially, we plan to use them in the 7th, 8th, or 9th innings as part of the chase group rather than the lead-off relief. We want to see them pitch without feeling too much pressure. After that, we’ll discuss with the pitching coach and consider gradually moving them into the lead-off role.”
He continued, “Since most Futures League games are broadcasted, I’ve watched all of them. Well, pitching in the minor league is different from pitching in the first division. We’ll have to wait and see.” He expressed his trust in them.
What advice did Manager Kim give to Kim Seo-hyun and Jung Woo-ju? He said, “Since the team is currently struggling, I told them not to feel too much pressure. I only emphasized that the time they spent there, their current mindset, and gradually building confidence as they step onto the mound are what matter most.”
He added, “They will inevitably feel some pressure. That’s why we’re not using them in the lead-off role right away. We want to try using them in a more comfortable situation first and then consider further steps. While we’ll consult with the pitching coach, for today’s game, depending on the score and innings, if they can pitch effectively, they will be brought in.”
Meanwhile, Kim Seo-hyun had an outstanding season last year but struggled somewhat this season. In fact, without Kim Seo-hyun last season, Hanwha’s playoff chances would not have been easy. In the 2025 season, he appeared in 69 games with a record of 2 wins, 4 losses, 33 saves, and 2 holds, posting an ERA of 3.14. Over a total of 66 innings, he allowed 52 hits (including 4 home runs), issued 31 walks, hit 8 batters, recorded 71 strikeouts, and gave up 23 runs (all earned), demonstrating his peak growth.
Kim Seo-hyun, who had such a strong performance, appeared in all 12 games this season as a relief pitcher, compiling a record of 1 win, 2 losses, 1 save, and an ERA of 12.38. Over a total of 8 innings, he allowed 9 hits (including 1 home run), issued 15 walks, recorded 5 strikeouts, gave up 12 runs (11 earned), posted a WHIP of 3.00, and faced a batting average against of 0.281.
As a result, he was removed from the first division roster on April 27. After regrouping in the Futures League, he was called back to the first division ahead of the May 7 game against Gwangju KIA Tigers. However, he failed to record even one out, allowing 2 hits, issuing 1 walk, hitting 2 batters, and giving up 4 runs (3 earned), showing poor form. Consequently, he was once again excluded from the first division roster on May 13.
At the time of his removal, Manager Kim said about Kim Seo-hyun: “If he can convince himself that he is slightly adjusting his form, we can discuss it with the coaches. If not, it will be a difficult situation.” He added, “He has been losing control while pitching, so I told him to spend ample time in the minor league. Control is important for now. We’ll consider whether to call him up again based on how he performs in games there.”
And about three months later, Kim Seo-hyun finally returned to the first division stage. In the Futures League, he appeared in 24 games with a record of 2 wins, 1 loss, 1 save, and 2 holds, posting an ERA of 3.86. Over a total of 28 innings, he allowed 15 hits (including 1 home run), issued 28 walks, hit 5 batters, recorded 33 strikeouts, gave up 15 runs (12 earned), and faced a batting average against of 0.160. Will Kim Seo-hyun deliver an impressive performance upon his return?
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