"My grandfathers were close friends." Married to a classmate from first grade, Lotte's Hyun Do-hoon expressed deep gratitude to his wife, who stood by him through a decade of obscurity. [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

Lotte Giants' Hyun Do-hoon (33) once again expressed his gratitude to his wife, who endured nearly a decade of obscurity alongside him.

Hyun Do-hoon is one of Lotte's newly discovered treasures this year. With concise pitching, he recorded 2 wins, 2 losses, and 2 holds in 19 games, posting a 1.61 ERA and 16 strikeouts over 22⅓ innings, earning a spot in the winning bullpen. When he met reporters after the April game against the Busan Hanwha Eagles, he attributed his success to his mindset: "I try to throw like a machine, excluding all emotions and thinking of nothing," emphasizing his composure.

That mindset remained unchanged even two months later. Ahead of the the 4th game against the Gwangju KIA Tigers, Hyun Do-hoon told StarNews, "I still have no special thoughts. Even if I give up a home run, I don't think I'm a pitcher who never gives one up; I just accept it as my turn to get hit. I don't worry much about my stats either."

He added, "Every moment, from training to playing games, is fun. The preparation process and even the nervousness are enjoyable. Since many things are new to me, everything feels fresh and exciting. Many people are worried, but the training staff manages me very well, and I don't feel overwhelmed."

What keeps the calm Hyun Do-hoon smiling and motivated is the presence of his family, who have supported him for years. After graduating from Sinil Middle School, Hyun Do-hoon went to Japan to study baseball at Kyoto International High School. He challenged the professional stage after attending Kyushu Koritsu University but failed each time, eventually knocking on the door again in 2017 through the Paju Challengers.

Even after joining Doosan as a developmental player in 2018, he faced two releases, continuing his obscurity for nearly a decade. Thus, his first professional win carried significant emotional weight. After becoming the winning pitcher in the April 28 game against the Busan Kiwoom Heroes, his post-game interview became a hot topic. At the time, Hyun Do-hoon told reporters, "I thought of my wife the most. Thanks to her, I could endure the difficult times and play the baseball I love. She supported and cheered for me from behind. I want to say thank you and I love you." His words moved many.

It turned out his connection with his wife, who is the same age, was extraordinary. As far back as he could remember, his wife had always been by his side. Hyun Do-hoon said, "My wife's grandfather and my grandfather were extremely close. As a result, my father and her father were also very close. Her older brother also played baseball, so we trained together, and our families were very close." He added, "We knew each other since we were babies. I recently checked, and we were in the same class in first grade. But I started playing baseball in Seoul when I was in second grade, so I don't remember much after that."

Leaving for Japan at the young age of 17, he must have felt lonely. Whenever he returned to Korea during the off-season, it was his current wife who welcomed him. Hyun Do-hoon recalled, "Our neighborhood in Namyangju Jinjeop is a bit rural. Having been abroad for so long, I had no local friends. I wanted to watch movies and eat delicious food, but I couldn't go alone. So I asked my wife to watch a movie with me."

He continued, "During the winter break, I stayed in Korea for 2-3 weeks. During that time, her father contacted me to have a meal. We ate, watched movies, and enjoyed delicious food together every day for 2-3 weeks before I returned to Japan. We kept in touch even after I went back to Japan. Around five months later, my wife asked if she could visit Japan, and that's when it all began."

After a long-distance relationship spanning Korea and Japan, the couple married in 2018 and welcomed their first daughter in January this year. On May 3, when Hyun Do-hoon secured his second win, his wife posted a message on her social media, receiving widespread support.

Hyun Do-hoon laughed, saying, "I heard her post appeared frequently on the SNS algorithm. Son Seong-bin even told me, 'Hyung! Your wife's post is showing up on my feed too.' I hadn't used social media before because I was worried it might cause trouble, but this time I used it for the first time." He added, "My wife often shares positive things. When things go poorly, she encourages me, and when I feel unstable, she gives me sharp but caring advice like, 'I hope you maintain a right mindset.'"

His performance this year would have been impossible without the support of his wife and family. Hyun Do-hoon shared, "I told her I wanted to try again this year, and she readily agreed. It's not easy to say that, but she always thinks of me first, so I'm grateful. Not only my parents, but also her parents have supported me for a long time, and I am truly thankful."

As a husband and father, Hyun Do-hoon wants to show his best on the mound. He said, "My daughter is a blessing. She is so beautiful and lovely. Since she was born, I've tried to become a better person and think more positively. I hope my wife and daughter can live happily and comfortably within the shelter of Hyun Do-hoon for the rest of their lives. To make that happen, my goal is to keep playing as long as possible."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.