*This content was translated by AI.
Right-handed starting pitcher Baek Dong-hyun (28), who has emerged as the KBO League's top 'hit product' in the early part of this season, will make his first start against his former team, the Hanwha Eagles. In fact, this is his second matchup against his former team since his relief appearance in the opening series in Daejeon on March 28.
Bae Dong-hyun has been announced as the starting pitcher for the Hanwha Eagles home game to be held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul, on the 12th. This is the first time Bae Dong-hyun, who changed uniforms after last season ended, will take the mound as a starter against his former team after a trade.
A graduate of Gangneung High School and Hansung University, Bae Dong-hyun began his professional career by donning the Hanwha uniform as the 42nd overall pick in the second round of the 2021 Rookie Draft. In his debut season in 2021, he recorded 1 win, 3 losses, and an ERA of 4.50 in 20 games, showing his potential, and prepared for his return after completing his military service with the Lee Hu (SVP) baseball team. However, there was no room for him within Hanwha's solidified pitching staff.
As a result, Bae Dong-hyun was selected by the Kiwoom Heroes in the third round of the second draft held in November 2025. Although he faced the pain of having to leave the team as he was not included in Hanwha's 35-man protection list, this turned out to be a huge opportunity for him.
However, his first meeting with his former team was not entirely positive. During the away game in Daejeon on March 28, Bae Dong-hyun, who appeared in relief, tasted bitterness when he allowed a three-run tying home run to Sim Woo-jun in the bottom of the 8th inning while leading 7-4. It was a painful error, but the experience at the time made Bae Dong-hyun even stronger.
Now, he is out for revenge as a starting pitcher. His opponent is Ryu Hyun-jin, the symbol of Hanwha. Facing his former team that excluded him from the protection list, and against the league's top pitcher, Bae Dong-hyun must prove with his skills why he was chosen by Kiwoom.
Currently, Bae Dong-hyun's momentum is more than enough to prove this. In 8 games this season, he has 4 wins and 1 loss, with an excellent ERA of 2.34. He is standing shoulder to shoulder with top foreign ace pitchers in the league, such as KT Wiz's Caleb Boshiri (33) and KIA Tigers' Adam Oller (32), both of whom have recorded 4 wins in a row, proving himself to be the best 'hit product' of this season.
The image of Bae Dong-hyun, who was classified as a resource outside the first-team lineup at Hanwha until last season, is gone. He is overwhelming league batters by mixing a four-seam fastball approaching 148 km/h with various breaking balls such as a cutter, changeup, and curveball. In particular, his confident pitching that does not waver even in crisis situations is creating the perception that he is a pitcher whose performance can be somewhat calculated.
Lee Kang-cheol (60), the KT Wiz manager, who is considered a 'top domestic pitching expert,' also praised Bae Dong-hyun, saying, "His ball rotation is very good. His breaking balls are powerful against both left-handed and right-handed batters. The ball seems to stay very low to the ground."
As if by fate, the opponent for Bae Dong-hyun's start this time is Ryu Hyun-jin (39), the left-handed symbol of Hanwha. Facing his former team that excluded him from the protection list, and against the league's top pitcher, Bae Dong-hyun must prove why he was chosen by Kiwoom.
Fans are watching closely to see if Bae Dong-hyun, who faced his former team once in relief during the away game in Daejeon on March 28, recording 2 innings, 2 hits allowed (1 home run), and 1 earned run, can lead the team to victory and take the lead in the win race alone on the mound at Gocheok this time.
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*This content was translated by AI.
