'Demoted to 2nd Division → ERA 0.75' Hanwha's Hwang Jun-seo, 'Wiped out 7 innings in just 79 pitches'... Is it time for the 'unfinished No. 1 pick'?

*This content was translated by AI.

Hwang Jun-seo (21, Hanwha Eagles) is showing a completely different side in the 2nd Division. He made a powerful display of readiness for a call-up to the 1st Division with his first 7-inning outing in his debut.

Hwang Jun-seo started against the Samsung Lions at Seosan Stadium on the 13th in a 2026 Medihill KBO Futures League home game, delivering a strong performance over 7 innings with 5 hits allowed (1 home run), 0 walks, 3 strikeouts, and 1 earned run.

Although he received no support from the offense and recorded a no-decision, it was a very impressive pitching performance.

Hwang Jun-seo, who was evaluated as a ready-made asset for immediate use in the pros and won the prestigious Futures Star Award at the end of 2023, was selected first overall by Hanwha in 2024 but spent his first two seasons with regrets.

He had a solid first half but slipped in the second half. Physical issues were pointed out, and ahead of this season, he finally succeeded in the long-awaited weight gain, boosting his confidence. He himself expressed satisfaction, saying, "I feel like the ball has more velocity."

He had been alternating between starting and relief roles in the 1st Division, pitching 11 innings with an ERA of 3.27, but on the 29th of last month, he allowed 6 walks over 1⅔ innings against the SSG Landers, giving up 5 runs before being pulled early, and was immediately notified of a demotion to the 2nd Division the following day.

Did stimulants play a role? Since then, he has shown a completely different side. Hwang Jun-seo, who became the winning pitcher with a scoreless performance of 5 innings, 1 hit allowed, 4 walks/strikeouts, and 3 strikeouts in a game against the Lotte Giants on the 7th, threw a career-best outing on this day, erasing 7 innings in just 79 pitches.

He started by allowing consecutive hits in the first inning but held off any runs with groundouts afterward. Excluding a solo home run to the left field by Shim Jae-hoon in the third inning, he faced no major crises and completed 7 innings. This was his first time pitching 7 innings combined across both divisions.

Most encouraging of all was the scoreless, walk-free pitching. By suppressing walks, his pitch count naturally decreased. Park Jun-young (24), who had been pitching well in the 2nd Division, secured a starting win in his 1st Division debut.

Although it was a Futures League game, he had previously shown good form in the 1st Division and demonstrated that he has addressed the issue of control, proving he is ready for another call-up.

Manager Kim Kyung-moon is taking a similar stance toward Kim Seo-hyun and Hwang Jun-seo, both of whom were drafted first overall. Kim Seo-hyun is a fourth-year pitcher who has been the primary closer and recorded 33 saves, while Hwang Jun-seo has yet to fully unleash his potential but has received consistent opportunities and is now in his third season, meaning he must now show his abilities directly.

If he gets called up again, he must now show a changed side.

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*This content was translated by AI.