'6-game losing streak → Plummets to 8th place': Is Hanwha's autumn baseball over? "It will be different in the first division" — The bullpen dilemma that Kim Seo-hyun and Jung Woo-ju could not solve

*This content was translated by AI.

Kim Seo-hyun (22) and Jung Woo-ju (20) also failed to provide a definitive solution for Hanwha's shaky bullpen. As Hanwha is now mired in a six-game losing streak, its dream of autumn baseball is fading further away.

On the 20th, Hanwha suffered a comeback loss, 6-10, against the KIA Tigers at Daejeon Hanwha Life Park.

With six consecutive losses, Hanwha's record stands at 48 wins, 56 losses, and 3 ties, dropping to eighth place behind NC Dinos and Lotte Giants. The gap with fifth-place Doosan Bears has now widened to eight games.

Hanwha finished the first half in sixth place, trailing fifth-place Doosan by 1.5 games, but since then has continued its downward slide with a record of 8 wins, 16 losses, and 1 tie — the worst in the league.

While the offense has left many runners stranded, it is far from poor, ranking second in home runs and fourth in OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging). The problem lies on the mound. Starting pitchers Wang Yencheng and Owen White have performed adequately, but Ryu Hyun-jin and new foreign pitcher Bruce Zimmermann have struggled without securing a single win.

The bullpen is an even bigger issue. In 25 games during this period, there were only five holds and two saves. This was not solely due to unfavorable situations; the bullpen ERA stood at 6.70, ranking ninth overall.

Finding a reliable central figure among pitchers proved difficult, and Hanwha ultimately recalled Kim Seo-hyun and Jung Woo-ju again on the 18th. Last year's closer, Kim Seo-hyun, had struggled severely with control this season and even spent time studying in Japan. Jung Woo-ju, who made a strong impression as a rookie last year and played for the national team, also faced difficulties this season and reported shoulder pain, dedicating himself to recovery.

Both pitchers recently threw three consecutive scoreless innings in the Futures League and joined the first division ahead of a midweek three-game series.

Manager Kim, who had consistently expressed concerns about the bullpen, said, "With these two players back, they have experience from last year, so I think they might feel more energized." He added, "These players will face real crowds and pitch in the first division, which could make a difference. Even if they can't immediately take over the winning lineup or closer role, if they contribute step by step in key situations, it will help us secure consecutive wins."

However, neither player made a significant impact in the game against KIA on the 20th. Trailing 2-4, Kim Tae-yeon hit a tying two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh, followed by Han Ji-yoon's go-ahead two-run shot to take a 6-4 lead. Jung Woo-ju then took the mound in the top of the eighth.

Facing first batter Kim Do-young, Jung Woo-ju allowed a walk after six pitches, with most balls straying far from the strike zone except for one that was called a strike. He gave up a hit to Herald Castro as his pitches crowded the plate and surrendered a run on Na Sung-beom's sacrifice fly to center field. He then struck out Yoon Do-hyun with a high fastball swing-and-miss.

Although Hanwha held the lead after allowing one run and needed just one more out, Kim Tae-gun hit a sharp fastball over the left-field wall for a painful two-run go-ahead homer. Seo-hyun was then replaced by Hwang Jun-seo.

After failing to score in the bottom of the eighth, Hanwha faced trouble again in the top of the ninth. A fielding error by right fielder Kim Tae-yeon on Kim Ho-ryeong's hit allowed a runner to reach third base. Although Park Jae-hyun was struck out, Ha Ju-seok singled him home with an RBI single, putting Hanwha behind 6-8 when Kim Seo-hyun took over the pitching duties.

Kim Seo-hyun gave up a hit to Kim Do-young on a ball outside the zone and allowed another run due to Chae Eun-seong's error on Castro's grounder, widening the deficit to three runs. He then walked Na Sung-beom with an off-speed pitch, loading the bases. After striking out Oh Seon-woo with a slider, Seo-hyun hit Kim Tae-gun with a pitch, surrendering another run via a bases-loaded walk before retiring Jung Hyun-chang on a groundout to first base to end the inning.

While it may be premature to pass judgment, the overwhelming performance expected from Kim Seo-hyun and Jung Woo-ju was not seen. Given their recent ups and downs, this outcome might have been anticipated, but the game highlighted a significant gap between the manager's expectation that "it will be different in the first division" and reality.

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*This content was translated by AI.