Only 19 at-bats in the first division, yet fans chant "home run" instead of "hit"... The bold 20-year-old Hanwha slugger who also caught Kang Baek-ho's attention: "I must hit extra-base hits to be an attractive player" [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

His experience in the first division is limited to just eight games and 19 at-bats. Yet whenever this 20-year-old prospect steps up, fans cheer for a home run before even hoping for a hit. Hanwha Eagles right-handed slugger Han Ji-yoon (20) continues to prove his appeal despite trial and error.

Han Ji-yoon is a right-handed pitcher and right-handed batter who joined Hanwha as the 22nd pick in the third round of the 2025 KBO Rookie Draft after graduating from Gajungcho Elementary, Hwimun Middle School, and Gyeonggi High School. Standing at 188 cm and weighing 98 kg, his power-hitting ability has been praised as attractive since high school. As a starting catcher during his time at Gyeonggi High School, he led his alma mater to its first-ever Blue Dragon Cup quarterfinals and the runner-up position in the Bonghwangdaegi Tournament. In his second year of high school, he won the Star Award at the "2023 Futures Star Awards" organized by StarNews, defeating Gangneung High School's Lee Yul-ye (20, SSG).

From his first professional season, he has fully displayed his strengths without holding back. In 57 games and 194 at-bats in the Futures League, he hit nine doubles and eight home runs, leading Hanwha's second-division lineup alongside Heo In-seo (23). This year as well, during 47 games and 165 at-bats in the Futures League, he recorded 12 doubles and four home runs while also appearing on the first-division stage.

There is still a long way to go for this unfinished star. As shown by his walk-to-strikeout ratio, he struggles with contact: a career Futures League batting average of .222 (71 hits in 320 at-bats), an on-base percentage of .288, and 32 walks and four hit-by-pitches alongside 85 strikeouts.

Recently meeting StarNews in Suwon, Han Ji-yoon said, "There are many difficult-to-hit breaking balls among the pitches thrown by pitchers these days, particularly two-seam fastballs, cutters, and sinker-like fastballs that drop quickly as they come in. To achieve a .300 batting average, I must be able to hit those kinds of pitches, but thinking about them makes me late on faster pitches. That's the dilemma."

However, those occasional explosive extra-base hits make every one of Han Ji-yoon's first-division at-bats feel worthwhile. Starting from the Futures League this year, he showed strong clutch performance with a two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs and a bases-loaded home run to seal the game. He also displayed a powerful presence whenever he came in as a pinch hitter in the first division.

Last month's match against Daejeon LG Twins was a highlight. In the bottom of the fourth inning with one out and bases loaded, Han Ji-yoon replaced Moon Hyun-bin as a pinch hitter and hit a two-run single. In the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs and runners on second and third, he again hit a two-run single, creating a tense chase until the final moments. The following day, he also launched his debut home run against LG closer Son Ju-young, raising expectations.

As a result, even though he has only played eight games with 19 at-bats in the first division as a second-year player, the chant "home run" frequently replaces "hit" in the cheering songs. When asked if such fan expectations are burdensome, Han Ji-yoon replied firmly, "I don't think professionals should feel burdened by cheers. Certainly, more spectators come and the cheering is louder than in the second division, which actually boosts my adrenaline."

He added, "In fact, when I focus really hard at the plate, I barely hear the cheering, so it doesn't bother me. Of course, it's loud during my time in the on-deck circle, but what's truly fun is hearing it most loudly when I'm running after hitting (whether a hit or a home run)."

Han Ji-yoon's turbulent growth story is being watched with interest both inside and outside the Hanwha organization. This is because he is one of the few remaining right-handed slugger prospects, and that number continues to shrink. According to a Hanwha official, Han Ji-yoon's batted-ball speed frequently reaches 170 km/h.

A scout from another KBO club who recently met with Han Ji-yoon also remarked while evaluating catching prospects this year, "It's rare to find a catching prospect with as much power-hitting ability as Han Ji-yoon during his high school years at Gyeonggi High School in recent years. Also, for a catcher, he was fast and often hit doubles."

Even the eyes of "genius hitter" Kang Baek-ho (27), whom Han Ji-yoon met with Hanwha for the first time this year, have noticed him. Han Ji-yoon shared, "When I had just recently been called up to the first division, (Kang) Baek-ho hyung said, 'Was your swing speed always this fast? It didn't seem that fast before, but this time it's definitely faster,' and advised me to watch closely how (Chae) Eun-seong sunbae hits."

He continued, "Hyung Baek-ho also has his own things to do, so I was grateful that he took the time to watch me. The same goes for hyung Jin-young; having seniors who look out for me gives me strength."

Although he is a pinch-hitting resource who could be sent down to the second division at any time, he intends to cherish every single at-bat while remaining in the first division. Han Ji-yoon said, "Even in Seosan, there were people who played the Hanwha first-division cheering song on weekends occasionally, but it was definitely different from what I heard at the ballpark. I felt a wall after coming to professional baseball, but I am grateful that Coach Kim Kyung-moon gave me this opportunity to go out and gain experience."

He further stated, "I believe I must hit extra-base hits like doubles or home runs rather than singles to be an attractive player. However, I don't think my swing should become larger just for the sake of hitting extra-base hits. Whether it's the ABS (Automatic Ball-Strike System) or pitches from first-division pitchers, I am adapting. As I face more situations, I believe I will gradually get used to them."

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*This content was translated by AI.