"We'll watch until three runs are allowed": Hanwha manager Kim Kyung-moon's plan for Hwang Jun-seo, all bullpen arms on standby except Lee Sang-gyu [Busan field]

*This content was translated by AI.

Hwang Jun-seo (21, Hanwha Eagles) will make his fourth start of the season. This appearance will be a crucial turning point to see if the left-handed starting pitcher, selected as the first overall pick, can establish himself in his third season.

Kim Kyung-moon (68), manager of the Hanwha Eagles, met with reporters ahead of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League away game against the Lotte Giants at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 7th, stating, "We always plan for starters to pitch up to the fifth inning, but it's very difficult to win after giving up all the runs we can. So, we'll watch until three runs are allowed in the early innings, and we'll need to make adjustments if we allow four or more."

Hwang Jun-seo, who excelled at Jangchung High School and won the grand prize in the baseball category at the 2023 Futures League Star Awards in the fall, was selected first overall by Hanwha in that year's rookie draft. Although promising pitchers like Moon Dong-ju, Kim Seo-hyun, and Jung Woo-ju last year have donned the Hanwha uniform in succession, expectations for Hwang Jun-seo were particularly high given his status as a left-handed resource.

We hoped he would become the second Ryu Hyun-jin, but his struggles in the first two seasons were painful. This season, he alternated between starting and relief roles, appearing in eight games with a record of 1 win and 2 losses and an ERA of 6.35, leaving room for improvement.

Park Jun-young (24) had already made a strong impression by securing the first-ever debut start victory by a KBO development player and pitching more than five innings in his second start, making today's performance even more critical for Hwang Jun-seo.

One positive sign is that he significantly improved his issue of allowing many walks by pitching as a starter in the Futures League. After being demoted to the minor league, he appeared in three games, pitching 17 2/3 innings with a record of 1 win and 0 losses and an ERA of 2.55. He demonstrated stability, including a seven-inning, no-walk, one-run performance, before returning to the first team.

We are not expecting a perfect game. The most important thing is to consistently pitch more than five innings to compete for one of the five starting pitcher spots. He must prove his ability to handle innings by suppressing walks as much as possible and boldly engaging in the game.

Manager Kim emphasized, "I hope Jun-seo fulfills his role well up to the fifth inning," and added, "All pitchers except Lee Sang-gyu are ready to go. Since there is a rest day scheduled, we'll give it a try."

If Hwang Jun-seo stumbles early in the game, Park Jun-young could be brought in in a 1+1 format. If he can hold on for more than five innings and the game doesn't lean heavily toward one side, the entire winning lineup can be mobilized to aim for a series sweep and a leap to fourth place simultaneously.

Hanwha lined up the batting order as follows: O Jae-won (center field), Yonatan Peraza (designated hitter), Moon Hyun-bin (left field), Noh Si-hwan (third base), Kim Tae-yeon (first base), Heo In-seo (catcher), Hwang Young-mok (second base), Lee Won-seok (right field), and Sim Woo-jun (shortstop). Kang Baek-ho, who was excluded from the starting lineup due to hamstring discomfort, will be ready as a pinch hitter in the middle to late stages of the game.

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*This content was translated by AI.