[Official] 'Hanwha vs. NC game draws record 66,380 viewers, peak rating 0.260%'; KBO Futures League Monday Baseball also sees explosive popularity; today (1st) features live broadcasts of Hanwha vs. KT and Sangmu vs. LG

*This content was translated by AI.

Popularity extends beyond the KBO League to the KBO Futures League as well.

According to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), the 2026 Medihill KBO Futures League "Monday Baseball" will be held at 11 a.m. today (1st) across five ballparks: Iksan, Icheon (LG), Masan, Sangdong, and Gyeongsan.

The KBO announced, "Two of the five 'Monday Baseball' games will be broadcast live. The Iksan Hanwha vs. KT game can be viewed on tvN SPORTS, TVING, and Lee Cheon (SVP), while the LG game will be available on KBSN Sports and TVING."

▶Iksan Hanwha vs. KT

Home team KT holds 20 wins, 31 losses, and 1 tie in 52 games, with a winning percentage of 0.392, placing them sixth in the Southern League. Although they have managed only 3 wins, 6 losses, and 1 tie in their last 10 games, there is ample reason to expect a rebound. The pitching staff is led by Han Cha-hyun, while the position players are spearheaded by Kim Geon-hwi and An In-san.

Han Cha-hyun has appeared in 11 games this season, recording 2 wins, 3 losses, and an ERA of 3.38, a figure ranking fourth in the Southern League. Kim Geon-hwi and An In-san each hit 7 home runs, tying for sixth place in the Futures League. In addition to home runs, An In-san has 48 hits, placing him tied for third in the league, demonstrating both power and contact-hitting ability.

Visiting team Hanwha continues its upward trajectory. With 32 wins and 17 losses in 49 games, they hold a winning percentage of 0.653, sitting second in the Northern League, and have maintained strong form with 8 wins and 2 losses in their last 10 games. The foundation of their strength lies in the harmony between pitching and hitting. Hanwha ranks first in the Futures League in team batting average (0.292), first in team home runs (40), and second in team ERA (3.88), showcasing balanced competitiveness on both offense and defense.

Players to watch include pitcher Jang Yu-ho and hitter Lee Ji-sung. Jang Yu-ho has posted an ERA of 2.08 in 13 games, ranking first in the league. Lee Ji-sung has 9 home runs, tying for second in the league, and 36 RBIs, placing him tied for fourth.

KT will start with Kwon Seong-jun, while Hanwha will start with Kwon Min-gyu. Kwon Seong-jun has recorded 2 wins, 3 losses, and an ERA of 5.03 in 9 games, while Kwon Min-gyu has 1 hold and an ERA of 0.00 in 3 games.

▶Icheon (LG) Sangmu vs. LG

Home team LG holds 22 wins, 25 losses, and 1 tie in 48 games, with a winning percentage of 0.468, maintaining third place in the Northern League. They have also recorded 4 wins, 5 losses, and 1 tie in their last 10 games, continuing their battle for a top-tier position.

LG is known for its clear team identity centered on offense. Kim Seong-jin (batting average 0.339, fourth in the league) and Son Yong-jun (batting average 0.326, sixth in the league) anchor the lineup, and the team's 453 hits rank third in the league.

Won Jeong-tim (SVP) is making an overwhelming presence in the league. With 32 wins and 14 losses in 46 games, they hold a winning percentage of 0.696, leading the Northern League.

At Sangmu, the performance of Jeon Ui-san, who is nearing discharge, stands out prominently. In 44 games, Jeon Ui-san has recorded a batting average of 0.344 (second), 53 hits (second), 9 home runs (tied for second), and 47 RBIs (first), ranking highly in most major batting categories. In addition to Jeon Ui-san, a total of 13 players, including Kang Hyo-jong, Kim Dong-ju, Jung Eun-won, and Song Myeong-gi, are scheduled for discharge on the same day. Their vacancies will be filled by 13 new recruits, including Park Myeong-geun, Song Young-jin, Lee Yul-ye, and Kim Dae-ho.

LG will start with Lee Sang-young, while Sangmu will start with Jin Seung-hyun. Lee Sang-young has 1 win, 3 losses, and an ERA of 6.30 in 9 games, while Jin Seung-hyun has 1 win, 1 hold, 1 save, and an ERA of 0.95 in 12 games.

Starting this year, the broadcast schedule for Futures League games has been expanded. Of the total 726 games, approximately 120 will be broadcast live on tvN SPORTS, and about 40 on KBSN SPORTS.

All Futures League games televised will also be available for streaming on the OTT platform TVING, allowing fans to enjoy Futures League games through even more diverse channels.

This season, "Monday Baseball" has been held a total of 12 times. A combined total of 319,884 viewers watched "Monday Baseball" across television and wireless platforms. The game with the highest rating and most viewers was the Hanwha vs. NC match held on May 11, which achieved a peak rating of 0.260% and a combined cable and TVING viewership of 66,380.

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*This content was translated by AI.