'Shock slump': Hanwha's Kim Seo-hyun makes surprise return to first division roster → Manager Kim Kyung-moon has no immediate plans to use him as closer "He has thrown more strikes than before" [Gwangju field report]

*This content was translated by AI.

Kim Seo-hyun (22), the 'closer' who was unexpectedly removed from the first division roster due to an unexpected slump, has made a surprise return to the first division. Kim Kyung-moon, the Hanwha manager, stated that he has no immediate plans to use him as the closer.

Hanwha registered Kim Seo-hyun on the first division roster ahead of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season away game against the KIA Tigers, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on the 7th at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field.

Kim Seo-hyun was the reliable backstop for Hanwha during the 2025 season. Last season, he appeared in 69 games, recording 2 wins, 4 losses, 33 saves, 2 holds, and an ERA of 3.14. Over a total of 66 innings, he allowed 52 hits (4 home runs), issued 31 walks, hit 5 batters, recorded 71 strikeouts, and gave up 23 runs (23 earned), demonstrating his best growth trajectory.

In fact, Kim Seo-hyun has been somewhat struggling this season. He has appeared in relief in all 11 games this season, posting 1 win, 2 losses, 1 save, and an ERA of 9.00. Over a total of 8 innings, he allowed 7 hits (1 home run), issued 14 walks, recorded 5 strikeouts, gave up 8 runs (8 earned), posted an on-base plus slugging per inning (WHIP) of 2.63, and allowed a batting average of 0.233.

Most of all, Kim Seo-hyun has continued to struggle with his control. On the 14th of last month, in the game against the Daejeon Samsung Lions, he entered in relief with two outs and runners on first and second in the eighth inning, allowing four walks and seven hit-by-pitches over one inning, giving up three runs. After pitching three consecutive scoreless games, he bowed his head on the 26th of last month against the Daejeon NC Dinos, surrendering a go-ahead two-run home run to Jung Jung-yeol.

Consequently, he was removed from the first division roster on the 27th of last month. After regrouping in the Futures League, he was called back to the first division as soon as ten days had passed.

In the Futures League, Kim Seo-hyun appeared in two games, recording one save and an ERA of 9.00. Over three innings, he allowed two hits, issued one walk, recorded five strikeouts, and gave up three runs (three earned). On the 2nd, in a Futures League game against the Doosan Bears, he allowed two hits, issued one walk, recorded two strikeouts, and gave up three runs over two innings. Then, on the 4th, he also faced Doosan, throwing a perfect game with three strikeouts in one inning and securing a save.

Ahead of today's game, Manager Kim Kyung-moon addressed questions about using Kim Seo-hyun as the closer, saying, "He needs to be used comfortably. Since Jack Cushing is currently handling the closer role, he needs to be used comfortably."

The manager continued, "Reports on his performance from the minor league keep coming. There have been good reports and bad ones. He has thrown more strikes than before. Setting aside whether he gets hit, he shouldn't be throwing balls, balls, balls. He needs to throw strikes so batters can hit. The reports on that aspect seem to be good."

Meanwhile, today Hanwha set its starting lineup in the following order: Lee Jin-young (center fielder), Peraza (right fielder), Moon Hyun-bin (left fielder), Kang Baek-ho (designated hitter), Noh Si-hwan (third baseman), Kim Tae-yeon (first baseman), Heo In-seo (catcher), Lee Do-yoon (second baseman), and Sim Woo-jun (shortstop). The starting pitcher is Jung Woo-ju.

Jung Woo-ju has appeared in 18 games this season, recording no wins or losses, five holds, and an ERA of 6.75. Over a total of 13 1/3 innings, he allowed 17 hits, issued 13 walks, recorded 19 strikeouts, gave up 10 runs (10 earned), recorded one blown save, posted a WHIP of 2.25, and allowed a batting average of 0.321. He has not allowed a single home run yet.

Manager Kim explained regarding Jung Woo-ju, "He will throw fewer than 50 pitches for now. If he pitches well, it will be around three innings; otherwise, we will need to prepare another pitcher from the second inning."

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*This content was translated by AI.