*This content was translated by AI.
Ha Ju-seok (32), who was expected to remain a one-club man for Hanwha Eagles after serving as team captain, has been unexpectedly traded to KIA Tigers. As KIA moves beyond mid-table and now aims for the top tier, they have secured an immediate impact player.
On the 23rd, KIA officially announced, "We have executed a trade with Hanwha Eagles exchanging infielder Ha Ju-seok and pitcher Lee Hyung-beom (32)."
Ha Ju-seok, who graduated from Gangnam Elementary School, Deoksuh Middle School, and Sinil High School, was selected as the first overall pick in the first round of the 2012 KBO Rookie Draft and joined Hanwha Eagles. Until this trade, he remained a one-club man with Hanwha.
In the 2023 season, he played in 25 games but faced difficulties due to a hamstring injury in the 2024 season, limiting his appearances to 64 games. After the season ended, he gained FA (free agent) status and signed with his original team, Hanwha. The contract was for one year guaranteed at 90 million won, plus an option of 20 million won, totaling 110 million won. Following the FA signing, Son Hyuk, Hanwha's general manager, told StarNews, "Ha Ju-seok said he would work hard and contribute to the team."
In the 2025 season, Ha Ju-seok appeared in 95 games, recording a batting average of 0.297 (82 hits in 276 at-bats), four home runs, 28 RBIs, 34 runs scored, 14 doubles, two stolen bases (one failed), 12 walks, 66 strikeouts, an on-base percentage of 0.337, and a slugging percentage of 0.391.
However, his playing opportunities decreased further this season. In the first division, he appeared in 27 games with a batting average of 0.256, 20 hits, six RBIs, and five runs scored. In the Futures League, he played in 32 games, posting a batting average of 0.327 (32 hits in 98 at-bats), one home run, 12 RBIs, 13 runs scored, three doubles, 13 walks, two stolen bases, two hit-by-pitches, 15 strikeouts, a slugging percentage of 0.388, and an on-base percentage of 0.412.
In fact, KIA has no shortage of infield resources. With 'KBO's top star' Kim Do-young and veteran Kim Sun-bin holding down third base and second base respectively, players like Kim Kyu-seong, Park Min, Jung Hyun-chang, and Yoon Do-hyun can cover second base, third base, and shortstop positions.
So why did KIA acquire another infielder? In fact, head coach Lee Beom-ho, despite finishing the first half in fourth place, had previously expressed his thirst for an infielder with offensive capabilities. Ahead of the final game of the first half (against Lotte Giants at Sajik) on the 9th, Manager Lee said, "We are currently extremely short on infielders. In the infield, Park Min and Kim Kyu-seong's bats aren't performing well, and Jung Hyun-chang is being used primarily as a defensive substitute. There are many issues with offensive performance among players who can cover both shortstop and second base."
He continued, "Still, Kim Do-young and Castro have been stepping up at the corners. If Kim Sun-bin continues to hit well, we could manage with just one shortstop spot covered. However, if we remove Sun-bin from the starting lineup, we lack the defensive depth for late-game situations. Therefore, it's best to start with Sun-bin in the lineup and substitute him when he's leading the game." He added, "Sun-bin has the ability to quickly regain form once he finds his rhythm. I imagine there are many complex factors involved, but I believe James Nail and Sun-bin are the most important players for the second half. They need to step up so we can hold on stronger in the second half," urging them to strive even harder.
It is true that Kim Sun-bin (batting average 0.257) has not performed as brilliantly as before this season. Additionally, Kim Kyu-seong (0.224), Park Min (0.200), and Jung Hyun-chang (0.154) have failed to show significant offensive contributions. Yoon Do-hyun has appeared in only 22 games this season with a batting average of 0.180. In contrast, Ha Ju-seok recorded a batting average close to .300 for two consecutive seasons: 0.292 in 2024 and 0.297 in 2025. He is clearly a resource with stronger offensive capabilities than defensive ones.
A KIA official also explained the trade background, stating, "Ha Ju-seok is a versatile infielder who can play multiple positions including second base and shortstop. With his rich first-division experience, we expect him to contribute significantly to our team's strength, which led us to pursue this trade." KIA finished the season with 49 wins, two draws, and 42 losses, placing fourth in the league. They are three games behind third-place LG Twins and seven games behind first-place Samsung Lions. Depending on the results of remaining games, they have a realistic chance of challenging for the top spots. Will KIA's acquisition of Ha Ju-seok propel them to even greater heights in the second half?
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*This content was translated by AI.
