*This content was translated by AI.
It was a situation he was completely unprepared for. Left-hander Lee Seung-hyun (24, Samsung Lions), who suddenly took the mound, made a powerful impact.
On the 15th, during a home game against Hanwha Eagles at Daegu Samsung Lions Park as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League, Lee Seung-hyun entered in relief in the top of the first inning with one out and bases loaded. He threw 74 pitches over 5⅔ innings, allowing two hits, no walks, striking out seven batters, and surrendering only one run to deliver a stellar performance that led his team to victory.
Starting pitcher Yang Chang-seop struggled from the first inning, allowing one run before getting hit in the helmet by Noh Si-hwan's pitch while there was one out with runners on second and third base, resulting in his ejection for a headshot.
The bullpen was completely unprepared. Lee Seung-hyun was rushed onto the mound. He could have allowed additional runs via hits, walks, sacrifice flies, or infield grounders, but he threw his signature curveball to Chae Eun-seong, inducing a double play and putting out the immediate fire.
After cleanly getting through the second inning, Lee Seung-hyun struck out Hanwha's core batters Yonatan Peraza, Moon Hyun-bin, and Kang Baek-ho all on swinging strikeouts in the third inning. His best pitches were all his signature weapon: the curveball.
He allowed a two-run tie when he gave up a double to leadoff batter Noh Si-hwan in the fourth inning, followed by Chae Eun-seong's sacrifice fly and an error on a wild pitch. However, he continued to dominate Hanwha's lineup without significant disruption. Lee Seung-hyun retired all three batters in order in the fifth inning and returned for the sixth, ending the frame once again with just three batters faced.
A three-run home run by Choi Hyung-woo in the bottom of the sixth extended the lead to 5-2, after which he handed the ball over to another reliever in the seventh inning and came down from the mound.
However, Hanwha's lineup punished him severely in the top of the seventh. The new pitcher, right-hander Lee Seung-hyun, gave up back-to-back home runs to Chae Eun-seong and Heo In-seo. Relief pitcher Im Ki-young then recorded two outs but allowed an infield hit to Lee Won-seok before surrendering a go-ahead two-run home run to Peraza.
The three pitches were by no means wild throws, yet Hanwha's batters swung fiercely, and the balls flew well over the fence. This also serves as evidence of just how powerful Lee Seung-hyun's pitching was.
There were four pitchers who would be on a third consecutive day of appearance if they took the mound that day. Manager Park Jin-man said, "There are several pitchers who would be on a third straight day. We intend to exclude them," but added, "However, since the pitch count is low, some players could still go out even for three consecutive days. We'll have to see tomorrow's weather, but given that rain is forecasted, we plan to use all available bullpen resources up until today."
The intention was that while pitchers should be conserved as much as possible, there may be unavoidable situations requiring a pitcher to appear on three consecutive days due to circumstances. However, Lee Seung-hyun's stellar performance allowed the team to minimize the use of the bullpen.
After the game, manager Park Jin-man praised Lee Seung-hyun (left), saying, "Lee Seung-hyun, who suddenly took the mound, took responsibility for a long inning and delivered his best pitching." He added, "Since there were players on the bullpen roster who did not appear today, Lee Seung-hyun staying on the mound for an extended period was a huge help."
Lee Seung-hyun, a local boy drafted in the first round ahead of the 2021 season, spent his first three seasons as a relief pitcher after making his debut but switched to starting pitching in 2024. He also started the season as a starter this year but experienced ups and downs. In particular, on April 8 against KIA Tigers, he collapsed over 2⅔ innings, allowing 11 hits, eight walks, and 12 runs. He also allowed four runs over 2⅔ innings in a game against Kiwoom Heroes before being sent to the minor league, where he stayed for 71 days.
Although he consistently worked through the starting rotation in the minor league, opportunities for recall were not easily granted. It was an extremely difficult time for Lee Seung-hyun. "I didn't want to play baseball anymore. My performance wasn't good, my pitches weren't working well, and I took a lot of abuse, so it was really hard," he admitted, but added, "But what else can I do? I have to keep going. I worked harder and prepared better, and Coach Kim Dong-ho helped me greatly with both mental and technical aspects, which became a huge source of strength for me."
Manager Park Jin-man, known as, had unusually spoken harshly during the early part of the season when Lee was struggling, but after his return in July, he did not hesitate to praise him when he delivered strong performances that greatly bolstered the bullpen. This became a major turning point for Lee Seung-hyun. "It's good that I could rebound somewhat in the second half after having poor outings, and it will be a positive factor for the team," he said, adding, "I'm heading to the military in December, but before I go, I think I should finish strong."
He has also fully recovered from his waist injury. Having been absent for two months, he is determined to contribute as much as possible to the team for the remainder of the season. "I came out of the starting rotation and became a middle reliever because of my own shortcomings, but I am very satisfied with my current position. It's not about the importance of the spot; it's truly great that I can play on the field, compete in games, and help the team in its race for the championship," he said. "I'm not saying I'll win the championship by myself, but I want to do my part to add strength."
Given the difficult times he endured, the voices of support became the driving force that allowed him to endure them. Lee Seung-hyun said, "It's hard to put into words how much there is, but through this opportunity, I want to express my gratitude," adding, "When I was struggling, many people offered me words of comfort and encouragement. It gave me a huge amount of strength."
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*This content was translated by AI.
