Hanwha Chairman Ha Joo-seok ↔ KIA Lee Hyung-beom: Sudden Trade Aligns Interests of 'Infield Reinforcement and Bullpen Strengthening' [Gwangju Field Report]

*This content was translated by AI.

KIA Tigers and Hanwha Eagles announced surprising news as their three-game series concluded. The two infielders of the same age, Ha Joo-seok and pitcher Lee Hyung-beom (both 32), will now wear each other's uniforms.

KIA and Hanwha revealed the trade details after completing their 12th matchup of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League season at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on the 23rd.

The teams confirmed they executed a swap trade, exchanging Hanwha infielder Ha Joo-seok and KIA relief pitcher Lee Hyung-beom.

This trade addresses critical needs for both clubs. Last year, Hanwha led the league with an ERA of 3.55, but this season their ERA has slipped to 4.61, dropping them to seventh place. Their bullpen ERA was particularly concerning at 5.11, worsening further in July to 5.65 and falling to eighth place.

Since the 3rd, Hanwha failed to secure eight consecutive starting pitcher wins before the game on the 22nd, with an unstable bullpen proving decisive.

Kim Kyung-moon, Hanwha's manager, expressed frustration ahead of the three-game series against KIA on the 21st, stating, "The bullpen has been on fire since the start of the second half." On this day as well, he praised Owen White's strong performance from the previous day, adding, "There have been many difficulties in the bullpen recently; thank you for extending your innings."

Lee Hyung-beom was selected via special draft in 2012, donning the uniform of the newly established NC Dinos. He later enjoyed his prime with Doosan Bears. In 2019, he dominated as a reliever with 6 wins, 3 losses, 19 saves, and 19 holds, leading his team to a championship. However, his performance declined afterward, and through the secondary draft, he joined his hometown team KIA starting in the 2024 season.

After two seasons of underperformance, Lee Hyung-beom delivered standout results this season, appearing in 19 games over 24 innings with an ERA of 3.00. His performance is expected to provide significant support to Hanwha, which has been struggling with bullpen concerns.

KIA faced significant challenges in their infield. While Kim Do-young plays third base and Kim Sun-bin at second base, both require careful management due to injuries and age issues. Additionally, the shortstop position lacked a definitive regular player.

Ha Joo-seok was a highly anticipated prospect selected first overall in the 2012 rookie draft, earning the Hanwha uniform. He finally broke into the starting lineup in 2016 and has maintained consistent performance since then.

Despite severe struggles in 2023, he showed promise the following year and rebounded in 2025, playing in 95 games with a .297 batting average, reestablishing himself as a key asset for his team.

This season has seen ups and downs for Ha Joo-seok; through 27 games, he recorded a .256 batting average (20 hits in 78 at-bats), an on-base percentage of .310, a slugging percentage of .282, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of .592. However, his clutch ability remains evident with a .304 batting average in scoring position. His versatility to cover both shortstop and second base positions suggests he could receive more opportunities with KIA.

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*This content was translated by AI.