'League's Most Frequent' Noon 2 PM Games Despite Repeated Occurrence, Hanwha Volunteers for Training: The Reason Behind Their Four-Game Winning Streak

*This content was translated by AI.

The unstoppable momentum of the Hanwha Eagles even brought down the top-ranked team.

On the 16th, Hanwha defeated KT Wiz 10-5 in an away game at Suwon KT Wiz Park during the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season.

With this victory, Hanwha, now on a three-game winning streak, secured a winning series against KT Wiz following their wins over the KIA Tigers, LG Twins, and Kiwoom Heroes. With a record of 20 wins and 21 losses, they are just one step away from a .500 winning percentage and have climbed to joint fifth place alongside KIA (20 wins, 1 tie, 21 losses).

Foreign pitcher Owen White, who finally returned, delivered a strong performance over 6⅓ innings, allowing 3 hits, 1 walk, striking out 4 batters, and giving up 2 earned runs. The lineup, despite having a similar number of hits, showed exceptional focus in scoring situations and succeeded in racking up a large number of runs.

Yonatan Peraza went 2-for-3 with 2 walks and 3 RBIs; Kang Baek-ho went 3-for-4 with 2 home runs, 7 RBIs, 1 walk, and 3 runs scored; Heo In-seo went 2-for-5 with 1 home run, 3 RBIs, and 1 run scored; and Moon Hyun-bin went 1-for-3 with 2 walks and 3 RBIs, relentlessly driving the KT lineup.

The lineup shows no signs of fatigue. Hanwha, which has been breaking KBO attendance records since last year, has been assigned the most day games among the 10th teams. The reason for the variation in schedules among teams is due to Saturday terrestrial broadcasts.

Typically, Saturday afternoon games around 5 PM are the target, but Hanwha, as a popular team, often has its games moved to 2 PM. The main issue with Saturday 2 PM games is that after playing a game on Friday at 6:30 PM, players have insufficient time to rest.

Usually, a 6:30 PM game ends around 10 PM, and after post-game schedules, players typically arrive at their accommodations after 11 PM. For a 2 PM day game, depending on their condition at the hotel, they may need to arrive at the stadium 3 to 4 hours before the game.

Because of this, most teams leave pre-game training to the players' discretion when a 2 PM game is scheduled. This is especially true for home teams, who must arrive earlier than visiting teams to train.

However, during Hanwha's training ahead of Saturday games, many players can be seen on the field warming up. According to the players, this is voluntary training with no coercion. Even the day after the 8th-hour 5-minute battle against Daejeon LG on the 8th, which ended after midnight, this routine remained unchanged.

Hwang Young-mok, recently met in Daejeon, began by saying, "We played a late game, and the next day was a 2 PM match, so recovery was the top priority. The manager and coaching staff were very attentive to helping us manage our conditions."

He continued, "The next day's practice was also voluntary. But even if it's a bit tough, seeing others go out makes me think I should go out too. I feel I'm lacking a lot myself. Whether I start or come off the bench, I try to stay well-prepared, and I think that's why positive results are coming."

The desire to play well is felt by young players, creating tension regardless of whether they are starters or backups. As a result, despite injuries to key players and a collapsing bullpen, Hanwha has achieved a 9-5 record in May, securing a .643 winning percentage, second in the league, and entering the top five. Hwang Young-mok, in his third full season and recognized as a regular player, knows this and swings the bat diligently.

Hwang Young-mok stated firmly, "I always maintain the same mindset and focus on the process. Since my first year, I've faced competition every year. I believe growth comes from competition. While I don't agree with the phrase 'enjoying baseball,' I do enjoy competition. I believe true growth and personal achievement come from overcoming that competition."

He further emphasized, "My goal remains the same every year. My objective this year is to stay in the first division and get at least one more at-bat. Since the team's performance is still in the early stages of the season, I believe it can improve further, and I want to contribute to that."

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*This content was translated by AI.