Will Hanwha Eagles rookie pitcher Hwang Jun-seo make his next appearance in the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) in the first or second team, as a starter or in relief?
Hwang was selected by Hanwha with the first overall pick in the first round of the 2024 KBO Draft. He was well-received in spring training, but the return of Ryu Hyun-jin kept him out of the Hanwha starting rotation. Hanwha started the season with a five-man rotation of Ryu-Hyun-jin, Peña, Kim Min-woo, Sanchez, and Moon Dong-joo.
Hwang Jun-seo started the season in the Futures League. On March 27, Hwang made a start against SSG’s second team in the Futures League, allowing one run on three hits (one home run) with two walks and three strikeouts in four innings.
He made his first-team debut on March 31 against KT in Daejeon. He was forced to skip a turn in the starting rotation when starter Kim Min-woo developed a left wing strain. 안전놀이터 Head coach Choi Won-ho called up Hwang Jun-seo and made him the temporary starter.
Hwang first-team debut was spectacular.
He pitched five innings of three-hit ball (one home run), two walks, five strikeouts, and one run against KT in Daejeon on April 31 to earn the win. His fastball topped out at 149 mph and averaged 145 mph.
He gave up a walk and a hit in the first and a single in the second to put runners on first and second with no outs, but he retired Hwang Jae-gyun on three straight pitches. He struck out Choi Soo-ho on a forked ball and got Jang Sung-woo to fly out to center field to end the threat.
In the third inning, a walk and an infield error put runners on first and third, but he got Rojas to ground out to the second baseman and struck out Baek-ho Kang on a forked ball. Moon Sang-cheol’s solo home run in the fourth inning was the only run of the game. The Hanwha bats exploded, scoring 11 runs in the fifth inning, giving Hwang plenty of time to get the win.
Hwang Jun-seo took the mound in relief for his last start against Gochuk Kiwoom. He came on as the second pitcher in the fourth inning after starter Peña was pulled early after giving up six runs in three innings. He threw two scoreless innings with no hits and two walks. His fastball reached 149 kilometers.
He struck out the first batter, Lim Ji-yeol, on a swinging strike (fastball) and gave up a walk to Lee Joo-hyung on a full count. With one out, Dawson struck out swinging on a fastball.
Kim Hye-sung grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.
In the fifth, Choi Ju-hwan singled to left field and Kim Hwi-jip grounded out to third base with two outs. He gave up a walk to Lee Hyung-jong but got Song Sung-moon to fly out to center field to end the inning.
Choi Won-ho briefly discussed Hwang Jun-seo’s future before Game 7. “Today (the 7th), Kim Min-woo will throw and check his body a little bit, and then we’ll decide whether to use Hwang Jun-seo in the bullpen or go down to the second team and give him a starting class. We’ll decide after today’s game.”
Kim Min-woo pitched seven innings against Kiwoom on Sunday, allowing three runs on five hits with seven strikeouts. Aside from giving up a solo home run in the first inning and a two-run homer in the seventh, he was dominant. He didn’t seem to have any physical issues.
In the five-man starting rotation, there is no chance that Hwang Jun-seo will be the temporary starter. Hanwha made a change in the bullpen from the Kiwoom game. 카지노사이트 They changed the closer from Park Sang-won to Joo Hyun-hyun. With Park Sang-won struggling, it’s a comfortable situation for the time being.
Aside from Joo Hyun-sang (0 ERA) and Han Seung-hyeok (1.42 ERA), the bullpen has seen ups and downs with Park Sang-won, Kim Bum-soo, Lee Tae-yang, Lee Min-woo, and Kim Seo-hyun. Hwang Jun-seo could be utilized in the bullpen for the first team. If you prioritize his development over immediate power, you can also send him down to the second team to prepare him for when you need a temporary starter.