'Need a win urgently': The '500 million won signing bonus duo' guarding the 2nd division, "Kim Seo-hyun's performance... We'll watch Jung Woo-ju for about two more games before deciding": Hanwha's bullpen concerns

*This content was translated by AI.

The expectation for Hanwha was so high that they secured a 500 million won signing bonus. Hanwha's first-round draft picks, pitchers, are going through a time of trial.

Hanwha is experiencing a brutal rookie saga. Moon Dong-ju (23), acquired as the first overall pick in the 2022 Rookie Draft, has been put on the operating table, and Kim Seo-hyun (22), the number one overall pick in the 2023 Draft, has yet to find a solution for his inconsistent control.

Hwang Jun-seo (21), who donned the Hanwha uniform as the first overall pick the following year, has recently shown good performance in the bullpen, but Jung Woo-ju (20), who joined as the second overall pick last year and even earned a national team jersey, is currently out of the first division due to ups and downs.

While Hanwha was able to rest for five games cancelled due to extreme heat during the second half and reorganize its starting rotation, there has been no special change in the actual problem area: the bullpen. Entering the second half, Hanwha's bullpen ERA stands at 6.56, ranking eighth.

No pitchers were specifically called up from the 2nd division. This means there are simply no suitable resources available. Kim Kyung-moon (68), Hanwha manager, met with reporters ahead of the Doosan Bears game held at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 11th and said, "If anyone comes from the 2nd division, it would be either Jung Woo-ju or Kim Seo-hyun. Seo-hyun's performance wasn't that good after returning from Japan."

Kim Seo-hyun, who exploded with potential by recording 33 saves last year, suffered a sharp decline toward the end of last season and failed to reverse that trend in this season either. Despite moving between the first and second divisions, he ultimately could not find a solution for his unstable control.

Last month, he went on a short-term study abroad to Next Base Athletics Lab in Chiba, Japan. The purpose was to find a solution for his control issues.

However, in two Futures League games after returning from Japan, he allowed five walks over 1⅔ innings. It may be too early to draw conclusions, but there is still no reason to call him up to the first division.

Jung Woo-ju's situation is somewhat different. Jung Woo-ju, who showed impressive performance in his rookie season, is currently suffering from a severe second-year jinx. He pitched 61 innings through last year's postseason and continued a grueling schedule by participating in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) ahead of this season, resulting in poor stats: 3 wins, 2 losses, 5 holds, and an ERA of 6.37 over 36 games and 35⅓ innings.

Jung Woo-ju was removed from the first division roster for the first time this season on the 8th of last month and did not play in the Futures League. He spent time in the rehabilitation group due to discomfort in his shoulder. It is necessary to check whether his physical condition has properly recovered.

Manager Kim said, "Woo-ju hasn't been able to pitch yet. If he had pitched about three times in a game, it would have been the right timing to call him up, but since he couldn't even play games there like in the first division, we plan to watch him pitch for one or two more games and then discuss with the pitching coach before making a decision."

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*This content was translated by AI.