*This content was translated by AI.
"(Ryu) Senior Hyun Jin told 'I'd rather 'take a hit ".
The team fell into a six-game losing streak, particularly allowing a staggering 35 hit-by-pitches in just three games against the Samsung Lions. Ryu Hyun-jin (39, Hanwha Eagles) did not hold back his harsh words toward pitchers who were self-destructing without even putting up a fight.
It is time to show it directly. Ryu Hyun-jin is scheduled to make his first start in a 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League away game against the Lotte Giants at Sajik Stadium in Busan, beginning at 5 p.m. on the 18th.
Hanwha, which had fallen into a six-game losing streak and was trailing in the previous match, received help from the heavens by deploying all its top pitchers. On the 17th, the game was canceled due to rain, allowing Hanwha to cancel its plan to initially deploy new temporary starter Park Jun-young and instead recall Ryu Hyun-jin.
Ryu Hyun-jin was removed from the active roster after securing a win with six innings and two earned runs against the SSG Landers on the 7th, and he is scheduled to be reactivated and take the mound today.
In two games this season, he has fully fulfilled the role of an ace with 11 innings pitched, 4 earned runs (3 self-charged), and an earned run average (ERA) of 2.45. He recorded 14 strikeouts while allowing only 2 walks and hit-by-pitches. Although he surrendered two home runs after engaging in aggressive pitching, he did not resort to a cautious approach to avoid damage.
It appears that the younger pitchers have personally felt it. Hanwha self-destructed by surrendering numerous hit-by-pitches and walks in the last three consecutive games. In particular, in the game on the 14th, the team surrendered 18 hit-by-pitches and walks, failing to maintain a 5-1 lead and suffering a comeback loss without even a single go-ahead hit. Such a case has never occurred in KBO history.
As a result, Hanwha brought forward Hwang Jun-seo, who was scheduled to start, and then used Willkel Hernandez a day earlier than planned, leading to a collapse with seven earned runs in just 1/3 inning. On the 16th, they had to call up Wang Yen-ching after four days of rest. After Kim Seo-hyun took the loss with seven walks and hits in one inning while allowing three runs, the team even changed its closer. The pitching staff became so disorganized that Jack Cushing, temporarily brought in as a foreign relief pitcher, had to take on the interim role.
To restore the team's mound to its normal state, starting pitchers must adopt an aggressive pitching approach and be responsible for as many innings as possible. If they succeed in breaking the losing streak, the bullpen operations and overall atmosphere can return to their previous favorable conditions.
Ryu Hyun-jin was the breadwinner for his family while playing for a team that had long been stuck at the bottom of the standings before his move to Major League Baseball. Hanwha fans could never easily laugh off the phrase "'L-L-L-L-Ryu'." Except on days when Ryu Hyun-jin took the mound, it was difficult to expect a victory.
However, such a presence is needed now. Stepping onto the mound to shoulder the role of a losing streak stopper and change the team's atmosphere.
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*This content was translated by AI.
