"I had pride as the fourth hitter" — With Kang Baek-ho leading in RBIs, Noh Si-hwan follows, and Hanwha's lineup unleashes 'crazy synergy'

*This content was translated by AI.

Batting average 0.213 (75 at-bats, 16 hits), 1 home run, 9 RBIs; 0.364 (44 at-bats, 16 hits), 6 home runs, 15 RBIs.

These are Noh Si-hwan's (26, Hanwha Eagles) batting statistics by lineup position this season. Although he moved down just one spot from the fourth to the fifth hitter, a remarkable difference has emerged.

On the 12th, Noh Si-hwan started as the fifth hitter and third baseman in Hanwha Eagles' road game against the Kiwoom Heroes at Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League. He went 3-for-6 with 3 strikeouts, 5 RBIs, and 1 run scored, including a bases-loaded home run, helping his team secure an 11-5 victory.

From the top of the first inning, a lavish spread was served. Hwang Young-mok reached on a hit-by-pitch, Yonatan Peraza recorded a hit, and Kang Baek-ho drew a walk, loading the bases with one out. Noh Si-hwan, stepping up to the plate, swung freely from the first pitch. He smashed a 144 mph fastball high in the zone, sending it soaring over the center-left field fence for a grand slam. It was the sixth bases-loaded home run of the KBO season and the third of his career.

He also helped on defense. In the bottom of the third inning, he blocked a hard-hit ball with his body and quickly threw to retire the runner. Ryu Hyun-jin even approached him directly to express his gratitude.

Noh Si-hwan, who had struck out looking in the second inning, hit a significant double to center-left field in the fourth inning with one out and runners on second and third, scoring the team's eighth run. Following this, Kiwoom's starting pitcher Bae Dong-hyun was eventually pulled from the game.

Although he recorded three strikeouts, he did not miss any RBI opportunities at crucial moments, recording his first 5-RBI game of the season. It has been over a year since he last achieved 5 RBIs, following his two-home run performance against the SSG Landers on April 16 last year.

At the start of the season, he fell into severe slumps, with his batting average dropping to 0.157, forcing him to spend time in the minor league. Since then, Noh Si-hwan has gradually regained his form, becoming a completely different hitter since May. In 10 games played in May, he posted a 0.364 batting average (44 at-bats, 16 hits), 6 home runs, and 15 RBIs, making a perfect comeback.

After the game, Noh Si-hwan met with reporters and said, "It was great that the hitters laid the foundation well right from the start. With the bases loaded, I tried to hit aggressively." He added, "I thought the pitcher would definitely take control of the count from the first pitch, so I decided to swing, and I got lucky that it worked out well. Honestly, I'd rather thank the players ahead of me than take credit for my own hit."

With three consecutive wins, the team has climbed to a tie for sixth place. The gap to fifth-place Doosan Bears has now shrunk to just one game. Noh Si-hwan said, "It feels great to be on a winning streak. I need to hit well for the team to win, and I felt very sorry for the team because we were struggling at the start." He continued, "There are still many games left, so I plan to maintain my batting form from now on and continue practicing as much as possible."

The biggest factor in his recovery was psychological. Noh Si-hwan explained, "I think confidence is the biggest factor. When I was struggling, I lacked confidence at the plate. I was overthinking and fighting myself instead of the pitcher. Now, I'm hitting without overthinking, focusing only on the pitcher, and that seems to be the biggest change."

He is generating tremendous synergy in the heart of the lineup alongside Kang Baek-ho, who leads the league in RBIs. Noh Si-hwan said, "(Kang) Baek-ho is hitting so well and drawing many walks ahead of me. Because Baek-ho is so effective in scoring position, pitchers avoid facing him, which gives me many opportunities. I think the synergy is working well here. I'm very grateful that they keep laying the table ahead of me. I believe I'm rising thanks to Baek-ho."

Noh Si-hwan's resurgence coincides with a change in his batting order. Since 2023, he had consistently held the fourth hitter spot for Hanwha, but this season, due to severe slumps and Kang Baek-ho's arrival, they swapped positions, leading to a synergy effect.

Noh Si-hwan also joked, "I had pride about being the fourth hitter, but the fifth spot feels comfortable (laughs). Maybe because Baek-ho keeps laying the table ahead of me, I'm getting more RBI opportunities, and the fifth spot feels comfortable now." He added, "We're hitting well together, so there's no need to change it."

While home runs are pouring in along with RBIs, Noh Si-hwan is not focusing on extra-base hits. "I'm just thinking about hitting the ball simply and strongly," he said. "That seems to be the reason I'm hitting so many home runs. I'm focusing on hitting lightly, as if flying like a butterfly and stinging like a bee."

As usual after his home run, he performed his signature belt-pointing ceremony. It is the belt of Moon Dong-ju, who was sidelined for the season due to injury. "I'm wearing it well now. I think (Moon) Dong-ju has given me energy. He keeps saying he's proud and grateful, and that he's thankful to Baek-ho and me," he said. "I plan to show it to Dong-ju every time I hit a home run. Every time I do, he contacts me saying his belt is full of energy. It feels like it's stabilizing my waist, and I don't know if it's just in my mind, but it feels good. (If the belt breaks) I'll need to make a new one. Since the energy needs to be transferred, I think I should ask him to make it directly rather than me making it for him," he smiled.

With his perfect comeback, expectations for the team's performance are high. Noh Si-hwan said, "I'm doing well enough right now, and if we continue like this, it should be sufficient. I don't think there's anything to improve. If the pitchers pitch hard and the hitters hit hard, and we go on an 8-game or 9-game winning streak, we'll be at the top. We, Hanwha Eagles, have nothing to worry about." He added, "Last year, we struggled at the start, but once we got a rhythm, we climbed up. When senior player (Chae) Eun-seong and the injured players return, the team will become even stronger. If the current players hold on well until the injured players return without being impatient, we can definitely climb up," he expressed confidence.

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*This content was translated by AI.