The relay of Jung Woo-ju, Kim Seo-hyun, and Park Sang-won also stopped at the script! The Hanwha foreign pitcher, haunted by the nightmare of "1/3 inning, 7 earned runs," staged a stunning comeback with 6 scoreless innings. [Busan Field Report]

*This content was translated by AI.

Hanwha Eagles foreign pitcher Willkel Hernandez (27) led his team to a winning streak with a turnaround performance that erased the nightmare of his previous game.

On the 19th, Hernandez started against the Lotte Giants in a road game at Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season. He pitched 6 innings, allowing 5 hits and 1 walk while striking out 2 batters, without surrendering any runs, leading Hanwha to a 9-1 victory.

It was a performance that erased the nightmare of his previous outing. Hernandez, a right-handed pitcher making his debut in the Korean KBO League with Hanwha this season, had shown below-expectation performances with earned runs in every game until reaching a low point on the 15th against the Daejeon Samsung Lions, where he allowed 7 earned runs in just 1/3 of an inning.

As a result, the manager's expectations were limited to just 5 innings. Before the game, Hanwha manager Kim Kyung-moon stated, "Even if the starting pitcher doesn't perform well, he should be able to pitch at least 5 innings. In the past, we would have waited until he allowed 4 runs. Today, we need to consult with the pitching coach and make a decision while monitoring whether he allows up to 3 runs. Still, I believe Hernandez will be able to pitch through the 5th inning." He then outlined a realistic target.

At the same time, he also revealed the contingency plan in case Hernandez faltered. Manager Kim Kyung-moon said, "If Hernandez pitches well beyond the 5th inning, we will consult with the pitching coach. However, if his performance is poor and he needs to be pulled early, Kim Seo-hyun, Jung Woo-ju, and Park Sang-won will be on standby today. Since tomorrow is a day off, we have prepared accordingly."

Fortunately, the scenario of a massive bullpen deployment did not materialize. On this day, Hernandez suppressed the Lotte lineup with a total of 77 pitches, including a fastball reaching up to 153 km/h (37 pitches), sliders (27 pitches), and changeups (13 pitches).

He faced the Lotte lineup, which has been suffering from severe hitting slumps, without encountering any major crises. Hernandez recorded a three-up, three-down inning in the first, and in the second, after two outs, he allowed a double to Son Ho-young to center-left field. However, he struck out Lee Ho-jun with a slider and fastball in just three pitches, preventing any runs.

Even in the third inning, where he allowed a leadoff hit, he retired the next three batters with weak contact. Defensive support also played a role. In the bottom of the 4th with one out and a runner on first, Jeon Jun-woo hit a single to right field. However, shortstop Sim Woo-jun intercepted the throw from the right fielder and tagged out Jeon Jun-woo attempting to advance to second base, recording the second out. Hernandez then retired Lee Ho-jun with a fly ball to left field to end the inning.

Hernandez recorded another three-up, three-down inning in the 5th and induced a double play from Han Dong-hee in the 6th with one out and a runner on first, achieving his first quality start of the season (6+ innings with 3 or fewer earned runs). Behind him, Kim Jong-soo (1 scoreless inning), Lee Min-woo (1 run in 1 inning), and Kim Seo-hyun (1 scoreless inning) held the line with minimal runs to secure the victory.

The lineup also supported Hernandez by delivering timely hits, totaling 15 hits across both long and short sequences. Moon Hyun-bin went 4-for-5 with 1 home run, 4 RBIs, and 2 runs scored; Kang Baek-ho went 3-for-5 with 2 RBIs; Lee Do-yoon went 3-for-5 with 1 RBI; and Sim Woo-jun went 2-for-3 with 1 walk and 2 runs scored, leading the offense.

After the game, Hanwha manager Kim Kyung-moon praised Hernandez, saying, "Hernandez did not throw many pitches in his previous outing. However, after three days of rest, he delivered an excellent performance that exceeded expectations and led the team to victory. The batters may have felt fatigued due to the day game, but they showed active hitting."

Hernandez also smiled broadly, saying, "I am happy to win the game. It is even more satisfying to continue the winning streak, and I feel everything went well on the mound today."

Reports indicate that his appearance after just 35 pitches and a four-day rest was no problem. Hernandez stated, "Although it was my first appearance in four days, I did not feel any difficulty. However, in the previous game, I did not pitch enough and had poor results, so I wanted to pitch better. I am glad to have had this good opportunity."

He continued, "While I cannot disclose details after the last game, there were specific technical adjustments I practiced. Mentally, I also regrouped. Especially, I received significant support from those around me, which was a great help. I am truly grateful to many people in the team."

Hernandez was expected to follow the foreign one-two punch of Cody Ponce and Ryan Weiss last year. However, as of now, he has recorded 2 wins and 2 losses in 5 games with an ERA of 7.17 over 21 1/3 innings and 12 strikeouts, which remains disappointing. In particular, his first quality start in five games is a point of regret.

In response, Hernandez expressed his determination, saying, "I have not been able to pitch many innings as a starter, so I feel sorry for the team. As a foreign pitcher, high expectations are natural. I will strive even harder and focus to meet those expectations."

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*This content was translated by AI.