"Three-strike-Three-Strike-Three-Strike-Three-Strike" Stubborn No. 4 more serious than Roh Si-hwan's sluggishness → Can't you adjust the batting order

*This content was translated by AI.

"Three strikeouts - Three strikeouts - Three strikeouts - Three strikeouts".

The incredible record, inscribed next to the KT Wiz record sheet on March 31 by Noh Si-hwan (26), the "center hitter" of the Hanwha Eagles, represents the frustrating reality facing Hanwha.

Hanwha lost 4-9 at home against KT Wiz in the "2026 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League" at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon on March 31. The momentum of the opening two consecutive wins was dampened, and at the center of the defeat was the extreme silence of "No. 4 hitter" Noh Si-hwan.

Noh Si-hwan, who started as the fourth batter and third baseman on the day, left a disastrous report card of five hits and five strikeouts in five at-bats. It is the most strikeouts in one game in the entire KBO league and the worst disgrace in Roh Si-hwan's personal career.

What was more painful than just the number of strikeouts was the point at which the "Mac" was cut off. On this day, Noh Si-hwan struck out swinging in all four chances (1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th) except for the 9th inning. Whenever the team had to gain momentum for the chase, the bat of the fourth batter split through the air. In front of him, No. 1 hitter Oh Jae-won, No. 2 Peraza, and No. 3 hitter Moon Hyun-bin all laid the board well with multi-base hits, but they all failed.

In fact, Noh's early pace this season is worrisome. It has been like that since the WBC (World Baseball Classic) held in March. He also failed to set the timing of the hit at all. He has a batting average of only 0.200 (3 hits in 15 at-bats) in the game, and is already No. 1 in the league with eight strikeouts. Samsung's Kim Young-woong came in second with seven strikeouts. In particular, he has not shown any signs of being a troubleshooter as the fourth batter with a batting average of 0.200 in scoring.

Some point out that the problem lies in the "operation" of the bench rather than the "slack" itself. Currently, Noh Si-hwan's timing has completely collapsed. Analysts say that the psychological pressure of the symbolic position of the No. 4 hitter is rather shrinking the player.

However, head coach Kim Kyung-moon is still fixing him in the fourth batting order with "trust." It is also the coach's virtue to trust and wait for the central batter, but Noh's current state is spreading beyond simple ups and downs to a "stamp" that blocks the blood of the entire team's batters. Placing them in the bottom batting order after No. 6 also definitely helps ease the burden.

Even if Oh Jae-won, Peraza and Moon Hyun-bin create chances in the leading lineup, the team's scoring efficiency hits the bottom as it loses its momentum in No. 4. Even in terms of protecting players, it is time to seriously consider the card of "strikeout adjustment." The extreme option of excluding the starting lineup is not a fundamental solution.

"Trust or perseverance" and "obsession and obsession" are a distance apart. The bench's flexible decision seems more urgent than ever so that the leading hitter, who signed a mega contract of 30.7 billion won in 11 years of contract, can ease his own burden.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.