"The bullpen is on fire," Manager Lee Beom-ho let out an unusual sigh; the answer was 'trade'... "We hope experienced Lee Hyung-beom will be a great help."

*This content was translated by AI.

Although Hanwha Eagles secured their first win of the second half after six games and immediately followed it with two consecutive victories, all attention shifted to the trade announced right after the game. To bolster their bullpen, identified as a weakness, the team opted to part ways with its one-club player.

On the 23rd, following a 9-3 victory over Hanwha Eagles in the season's 12th match at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field, Hanwha announced, "We have completed a one-on-one trade with KIA Tigers: infielder Ha Ju-seok is going to KIA, and we are receiving right-handed pitcher Lee Hyung-beom (32)."

Both teams had already matched the necessary cards during the three-game series and reached an agreement, but the deal could only be disclosed after the series concluded. As a result, the game's outcome was completely overshadowed.

While the sudden trade left not only the parties involved but also players from both teams and fans bewildered, hints of this move were already visible in statements made by both managers during the three-game series. Manager Lee Beom-ho expressed concerns throughout the series regarding the physical management of Kim Do-young and Kim Seon-bin. The acquisition of Ha Ju-seok, who can play both shortstop and second base, is expected to provide much-needed flexibility in infield operations.

Although Manager Kim typically avoids directly commenting on players' slumps, the recent significant instability in the bullpen made it natural for him to voice his concerns.

Manager Kim Kyung-moon (68) expressed frustration ahead of the first game of the series on the 21st, stating, "The bullpen is already on fire since the start of the second half." Later that day, while praising Owen White's seven-inning performance the previous day, he added, "We are facing many difficulties in the bullpen right now, so thank you for extending your innings," failing to hide his anxiety about the back end of the pitching staff.

These concerns ultimately led to a trade. Hanwha used Ha Ju-seok, their one-club player acquired as the first overall pick in the 2012 amateur draft with a signing bonus of 300 million won, as the key asset. Despite ups and downs over more than a decade, he was a player who had shared Hanwha's difficult times. Although he played a crucial role in the infield during the past two seasons, the team determined that addressing the bullpen issue was more urgent.

After praising the award-winning players following the victory, Manager Kim added, "Ha Ju-seok has moved to KIA, and we wish him well in his future performances." He also stated, "With experienced veteran Lee Hyung-beom joining us, we hope he will greatly assist the young players in shaping the team's atmosphere."

Son Hyuk, Hanwha's general manager who finalized the trade, said, "Lee Hyung-beom is a veteran pitcher with closing experience. Additionally, recent data confirms his competitiveness in velocity and pitch movement. We expect Lee Hyung-beom's addition to strengthen our bullpen."

Lee Hyung-beom began his professional career with the newly established NC Dinos in 2012 under special selection, at which time Kim Kyung-moon was the team's manager. Having resolved his military service obligations early and returned to the team, Lee continued to receive guidance from Manager Kim until June 2018, just before his resignation.

The following year, Lee joined Doosan Bears as compensation for Yang Eui-ji's move from NC to Doosan. In 2019, he played a pivotal role in the bullpen with a record of six wins, three losses, 19 saves, and 19 holds, leading his team to the championship. However, he failed to fulfill his role at the first division level and moved back to his hometown team via the second draft ahead of the 2024 season.

After struggling in the first division over the past two seasons, Lee Hyung-beom renewed his determination and rebounded this season with a 3.00 ERA across 19 games and 24 innings pitched.

Expressing some regret over the sudden trade news, Lee Hyung-beom said, "Hanwha is also a good team, and since I've ended up here, I'll take this as a bigger opportunity and work harder." He added, "I see this as a positive chance to go there and pitch for Hanwha. This year, I didn't have any grand ambitions; my goal was simply to finish the season without injury. I want to achieve that goal."

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*This content was translated by AI.