Why the shocking 'no-out' four runs allowed? "Kim Seo-hyun has too many walks." Kim Kyung-moon trusted him again... "If you can't overcome it, that's it. But if you do..." Noh Si-hwan offered sincere advice.

*This content was translated by AI.

Kim Seo-hyun (22), who had been serving as the closer for the Hanwha Eagles, faltered again in his return to the first division. He collapsed without recording a single out, allowing 2 hits, 1 hit-by-pitch, 1 walk, and 4 runs.

Kim Seo-hyun appeared in relief during the 9th inning of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular-season away game against the KIA Tigers at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field on the 7th, when his team was leading 11-4. Facing five batters, he pitched 0 innings, allowing 2 hits, 1 walk, 1 hit-by-pitch, and 4 runs (3 earned), hanging his head in defeat. His total pitch count was 21.

After this game, Kim Seo-hyun's record for the season stands at 12 relief appearances, 1 win, 2 losses, 1 save, and an ERA that has skyrocketed to 12.38. Over a total of 8 innings, he allowed 9 hits (1 home run), 15 walks, recorded 5 strikeouts, gave up 12 runs (11 earned), blew 1 save, posted a WHIP of 3.00, and allowed a batting average of 0.281.

On this day, Kim Seo-hyun took the mound as the sixth pitcher for Hanwha, following Kwon Min-kyu in the bottom of the 9th inning when Hanwha was leading 11-4.

As soon as Kim Seo-hyun took the mound, he faced leadoff batter Park Jung-woo. His first pitch was a ball that missed far outside. The velocity clocked in at 156 km/h. Kim Seo-hyun threw another ball on the second pitch, but recorded strikes on the third and fourth pitches. However, his fifth pitch, a fastball, struck Park Jung-woo.

That was not the end. He threw another hit-by-pitch. The next batter was Han Seung-yeon. With a 2-2 count, Kim Seo-hyun threw a fifth fastball that resulted in a foul. Then, on the sixth pitch, he threw another hit-by-pitch, instantly creating a bases-empty, 1st and 2nd base crisis.

Seeing Kim Seo-hyun falter, Hanwha pitching coach Park Seung-min came to the mound to calm him down. However, Kim Seo-hyun's control remained elusive. After throwing a strike on the first pitch, his second fastball was hit for a left-field single. Kim Seo-hyun now faced a bases-loaded, no-out crisis.

The next batter was the 9th hitter, Park Min. He chose a slider for the first pitch, which was called a ball. This was the first time Kim Seo-hyun used a breaking ball on this day. He recorded a strike on the second pitch and a foul on the third. He then threw a slider on the fourth pitch, which resulted in a two-run single to center field.

As the KIA batters targeted Kim Seo-hyun, the Champions Field suddenly began to fill with cheers again. The next batter was Park Jae-hyun. It would not be an exaggeration to say he had no intention of swinging. Kim Seo-hyun appeared to have completely collapsed. All four of his fastballs were out of control, and he allowed a bases-loaded walk with an RBI.

That was it. Kim Seo-hyun left the mound. Hanwha's temporary closer, Jack Cushing, who had been warming up, took over for Kim Seo-hyun. Cushing induced a groundout to first base from Kim Kyu-sung, but during that play, third baseman Kim Tae-gun scored, adding to Kim Seo-hyun's earned runs. Then, on a fielder's choice grounder to the pitcher from Ko Jong-wook, a fielding error by the pitcher compounded the situation, allowing another run. Nevertheless, he managed to preserve a three-run lead by striking out Jung Hyun-chang and Adelin consecutively.

Kim Seo-hyun had firmly protected the back door for Hanwha during the 2025 season. He appeared in 69 games in the 2025 season, 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), 31 walks, 1 hit-by-pitch, recorded 71 strikeouts, and gave up 23 runs (23 earned), standing tall as a pillar of the team.

That same Kim Seo-hyun is now going through the toughest time of the season. Above all, he is continuously struggling with control. On April 14 in the Daejeon Samsung Lions game, he appeared in relief with two outs and runners on 1st and 2nd in the 8th inning, allowing four walks and one hit-by-pitch (four total baserunners) in one inning, giving up three runs. Following three consecutive scoreless appearances, he bowed his head on the 26th in the Daejeon NC Dinos game after surrendering a go-ahead two-run home run to An Jung-yeol.

Consequently, he was removed from the 1st division roster on the 27th. He spent time regrouping in the Futures League. In two Futures League appearances, he recorded 1 save and an ERA of 9.00. Over 3 innings, he allowed 2 hits, 1 walk, recorded 5 strikeouts, and gave up 3 runs (3 earned). On the 2nd, in a Futures League game against the Doosan Bears, he pitched 2 innings, allowing 2 hits, 1 walk, recording 2 strikeouts and 3 runs. Then on the 4th, he secured a save with a perfect 1-inning performance against Doosan, striking out three batters.

Commander Kim Kyung-moon, the Hanwha manager, stated before the game on the 7th regarding Kim Seo-hyun: "We need to use him comfortably. Since Jack Cushing is currently serving as the closer, we must use him comfortably." The manager continued, "Reports keep coming in from the 2nd division. There were good moments and bad ones. He has more strikes than before. Setting aside the issue of hits, shouldn't we avoid throwing 'ball, ball, ball'? We need to throw strikes so batters can hit. The reports seem to be good in that regard."

However, cruelly, Kim Seo-hyun failed to live up to the manager's trust. He was called up to the 1st division again just after ten days, but he still faced the same challenges. Teammate Noh Si-hwan, who hit two home runs on this day, offered sincere advice to Kim Seo-hyun: "Honestly, he must be the most troubled himself. There is a point where no comfort from anyone can be heard. I went through that too. But it is a part that must be experienced. It is a trial that everyone must go through. To become a superstar as a baseball player, I believe one must go through everything. It is not the power of anyone else, but oneself that must overcome it. If one cannot overcome it well, that is the end. But if one does overcome it, I think they will become a truly, truly great player."

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*This content was translated by AI.