'Batting average against in scoring position 0.136, ERA 2.84' — It is not Ryu Hyun-jin; it is 'Woo-hyun-jin' Owen White, a perfect ace with instinct.

*This content was translated by AI.

ERA (2.84), batting average against in scoring position (0.136), and performance as an inning-eater — all hallmarks of a true ace.

These are not the stats of Ryu Hyun-jin (39). They belong to Owen White (27, Hanwha Eagles), whose nickname 'Woo-hyun-jin' is entirely fitting given his dominant numbers.

White made his season start on the 3rd against the LG Twins at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium in an away game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League, throwing 111 pitches over seven innings to allow four hits, one walk, and record five strikeouts in a scoreless outing, earning his fifth win (four losses) of the season.

Though sidelined by injury early in the season and unable to return to the mound until mid-May, White has since displayed the commanding presence of a true ace.

The opposing strategy was to relentlessly exploit White's known weakness: left-handed batters. After suffering an injury early in the season, White had appeared in only nine games with a 4–4 record and a 3.24 ERA, yet still fulfilled his role as Hanwha's ace. The one flaw? His batting average against for left-handed hitters stood at 0.292 — significantly higher than his overall season mark (0.250) and far worse than against right-handed batters (0.198).

LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop zeroed in on this vulnerability, deploying seven left-handed hitters in the starting lineup to target White. Yet White delivered a dominant performance that seemed to prove Yeom's data-driven strategy wrong.

Even after allowing hits in each of the first three innings, White remained unfazed and sharpened his focus in critical moments. He retired batters via groundouts and strikeouts to maintain a scoreless line, then recorded three consecutive three-up, three-down frames starting from the fourth inning.

In the seventh inning, Austin Dean hit a double with one out, but White struck out Moon Bo-kyung with a swing-and-miss and walked Cheon Seong-ho without losing composure. Despite already exceeding 100 pitches, Hanwha chose to keep White in rather than bring in a reliever. Ultimately, White retired Moon Sung-ju on a fly ball to left field, extinguishing the threat himself.

That day, White threw only 49 of his total pitches with two types of fastballs — clocking between 152 km/h and 147 km/h. He used a slider with a large break for 26 pitches, a cutter with a sharper angle but slightly higher velocity for 11 pitches, and a forkball that drops sharply like a fastball for 19 pitches. He also mixed in six curves that differ from his fastball by more than 30 km/h, designed to disrupt timing.

This was White's highest pitch count of the season, and it came against the league-leading team in a tense matchup. Yet he showcased his full potential with seasoned command and poise.

White said, "With so many left-handed hitters in LG's lineup, I aimed to use a variety of pitches beyond just my slider, which proved effective." He added, "I think today was the most pitches I've thrown this season. Since LG is such a strong opponent, it sparked my competitive spirit."

Relying on six different pitch types, White demonstrated exceptional crisis management. His batting average against in scoring position stands at just 0.136 (six hits allowed in 44 at-bats). He has recorded six quality starts (six innings pitched with three or fewer earned runs) this season — four of which lasted seven innings. Despite being a right-handed pitcher, these numbers closely mirror those of Ryu Hyun-jin.

Though supported by only two runs, White remained humble: "Our team didn't score many runs, but that's part of baseball. We can't always receive abundant run support." He continued, "The opponent also showed excellent pitching and defense. What matters most is that I received support and encouragement from my team rather than just relying on scoring opportunities."

White also shares a profound sense of responsibility with Ryu Hyun-jin. "Even though I was tired when retiring the final batter in the seventh inning, whenever I'm on the mound, I focus on every single pitch and give it all my energy," he said. He added, "I want to express my gratitude to the manager and team for giving me the chance to finish the seventh inning."

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*This content was translated by AI.