Finally, the immediate-impact player in the 'Hanwha→KIA trade' has secured his first starting opportunity! Expectations are 'UP'

*This content was translated by AI.

Ha Ju-seok, who moved from Hanwha Eagles to KIA Tigers, will make his first start wearing the Tigers uniform.

On the 25th at 6 p.m., KIA will host a regular-season home game against Kiwoom Heroes at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field.

Kiwoom will have Park Jun-hyun (right-handed pitcher) take the mound as the starting pitcher, with their lineup set as follows: Ju-jae-hyun (center fielder), Davison (first baseman), An Chi-hong (second baseman), Kim Woong-bin (third baseman), Park Chan-hyuk (right fielder), Kim Geon-hee (designated hitter), Lee Hyung-jong (left fielder), Kim Dong-heon (catcher), and Kwon Hyeok-bin (shortstop).

In response, KIA will have veteran Yang Hyeon-jong start. Their lineup is arranged as: Park Jae-hyun (left fielder), Castro (designated hitter), Kim Do-young (third baseman), Na Sung-beom (right fielder), Han Jun-soo (catcher), Park Sang-jun (first baseman), Ha Ju-seok (second baseman), Kim Kyu-sung (shortstop), and Kim Ho-ryeong (center fielder).

It is notable that Ha Ju-seok will start as the seventh hitter and second baseman. Meanwhile, Kim Sun-bin, who had primarily started at second base, has been omitted from the starting lineup. Ha Ju-seok is expected to form a keystone combination with Kim Kyu-sung at shortstop.

This marks Ha Ju-seok's first appearance in a game since joining KIA. Furthermore, it has been over two months and a half since he last played on the first division stage, following his appearance against LG Twins on May 8.

Ha Ju-seok joined KIA through a trade on the 23rd. At the time, KIA officially announced, "We executed a trade exchanging Han Ho and pitcher Lee Hyung-beom for Ha Ju-seok."

A KIA official explained the background of the trade, stating, "Ha Ju-seok is a resource capable of handling various positions in the infield, including second base and shortstop. With his rich first-division experience, we expect him to bolster our team's strength, which led us to pursue this trade."

A graduate of Gangnam Elementary School, Deoksung Middle School, and Sinil High School, Ha Ju-seok was selected as the first overall pick in the first round of the 2012 KBO Rookie Draft and joined Hanwha Eagles. He remained a one-club man at Hanwha until this trade.

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 obtained free agent (FA) status and re-signed with his original team, Hanwha. The contract was for a total of 110 million won, consisting of a one-year guaranteed salary of 90 million won plus an option of 20 million won. Following the FA contract, 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), 4 home runs, 28 RBIs, 34 runs scored, 14 doubles, 2 stolen bases (1 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 played in 27 games with a batting average of 0.256, 20 hits, 6 RBIs, and 5 runs scored. In the Futures League, he played in 32 games, posting a batting average of 0.327 (32 hits in 98 at-bats), 1 home run, 12 RBIs, 13 runs scored, 3 doubles, 13 walks, 2 stolen bases, 2 hit-by-pitches, 15 strikeouts, a slugging percentage of 0.388, and an on-base percentage of 0.412.

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*This content was translated by AI.