After the Hanwha-KIA trade, a surge of emotion; after 633 days without a home run, the power hitter finally unleashes his full potential... and yet, he gave it away in his first start of the season.

*This content was translated by AI.

He hit a home run in his second game of the season and his first start. Although the team narrowly lost by one run, KIA Tigers fans showered him with unreserved applause. This is the story of Byun Woo-hyuk (26), an infielder for the KIA Tigers who was once a promising power hitter.

On the 10th, KIA lost 3-4 to the Hanwha Eagles in a regular-season away game at the Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

With this loss, KIA ended its winning streak at two games, finishing with 33 wins, one tie, and 28 losses. The team currently sits alone in fourth place in the league standings. While trailing the third-place Samsung Lions by one game, the gap with fifth-place Hanwha has narrowed from two games to just one.

Byun Woo-hyuk started the game at third base and batted seventh, going 1-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored. That single hit was a home run.

In his first at-bat in the second inning, a well-hit ball headed toward right field. In his second at-bat in the fourth inning, another well-hit ball went toward left field.

Byun Woo-hyuk's home run came in the seventh inning when the team was trailing 0-4. There were two outs with no runners on base. On the mound was Owen White, who ultimately pitched seven innings allowing only one run. The count was 2-2. On the fifth pitch, Byun Woo-hyuk attacked a sweeper (131 km/h) that was slightly outside and low in the middle zone, sending it over the left-field wall for a solo shot. The distance was 120 meters. Exit velocity was 164 km/h, and launch angle was 21 degrees.

Additionally, this home run marked Byun Woo-hyuk's first since September 15, 2024, against the Gwangju Kiwoom Heroes — a span of 633 days.

Most notably, Byun Woo-hyuk was deployed at third base in place of designated hitter Kim Do-young, showcasing steady defensive skills at crucial moments. He made timely plays on tricky bounces and displayed agile sliding catches. His performance was so impressive that it raises the question of whether Kim Do-young and Byun Woo-hyuk can coexist moving forward.

Byun Woo-hyuk joined the KIA Tigers via trade following the 2022 season. It was a 1-for-2 trade in which KIA received Byun Woo-hyuk in exchange for Hanseung-hyuk and Jang Ji-su from Hanwha. Regarding the background of acquiring Byun Woo-hyuk, KIA stated, "He is a right-handed infielder with strong power-hitting ability and can play both first and third base. Having completed his military service, he offers a wide range of utility." At the time, in an interview with StarNews immediately after the trade, he also expressed his determination: "I was overwhelmed. Kim Do-hyun is my close friend, but now I have only the things I'm good at left. I'll bite down and run even harder."

Byun Woo-hyuk graduated from Ilsan Elementary, Hyundo Middle, and Bukil High School. He was selected in the first round of the 2019 draft and joined the Hanwha Eagles. His signing bonus was 180 million won. In the 2019 season, he played 29 games, batting .226 with one home run and two RBIs, before completing his military service at the Army Baseball Team.

After joining KIA, he recorded a .225 batting average with seven home runs and 24 RBIs in 83 games during the 2023 season, and a .304 average with five home runs and 21 RBIs in 2024. However, last season he played only 47 games, batting .218 with 17 RBIs and 11 runs scored, and failed to hit a single home run. This season, he faced setbacks, including an early return from camp due to a calf injury, but made his first Futures League appearance on the 9th of last month. Called up to the first division for the first time this season on the 7th, he finally showcased his presence with a home run on this day. What kind of performance will Byun Woo-hyuk deliver for the remainder of KIA's season this year?

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*This content was translated by AI.