'Hanwha's desperate 600 million won foreign investor' batting average against 0.429-ERA 14.06... 'Thought he was Thor, turns out to be Bomb Man'

*This content was translated by AI.

We thought he would be the 'Thor' hero leading Hanwha Eagles into the autumn playoffs. However, reality proved him to be a 'Bomb Man' who explodes with every appearance. Bruce Zimmermann (31) is now causing major headaches for Hanwha as the season nears its end.

On the 27th at Incheon SSG Landers Field, Zimmermann started against SSG Landers in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League away game. He threw 63 pitches over 2⅔ innings, allowing 9 hits with no walks and recording 2 strikeouts while surrendering 5 runs before completing the third inning.

Zimmermann was Hanwha's key move for the autumn playoffs. Replacing Wilkel Hernandez, who posted a 3-6 record with a 4.92 ERA in 16 games, Hanwha signed Zimmermann to a contract worth up to $440,000 (approximately 608 million won) including incentives.

Zimmermann, who played six seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), was not a high-strikeout pitcher but rather a finesse pitcher who relied on precise control to induce ground balls. There were expectations that his addition would create significant synergy on the mound, which has been struggling under Kim Kyung-moon's management due to walks. His tall stature and solid physique also earned him the nickname 'Thor,' an Avenger hero, from fans.

In his KBO League debut against LG Twins on the 26th of last month, he pitched 4 innings, allowing only 3 hits and 2 walks while remaining scoreless. He displayed aggressive pitching that kept batters off-balance, demonstrating the essence of efficient pitching.

However, he subsequently fell into a slump. In the game against Samsung Lions on the 1st, he pitched 4 innings, allowing 8 hits and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts while surrendering 7 runs, taking his first loss. On the 14th against Samsung Lions again, he covered 5 innings but allowed 10 hits (including 3 home runs), 1 walk, and recorded 5 strikeouts while giving up 6 runs, falling to a two-game losing streak. When facing LG again on the 21st, he managed only one out, allowing 6 hits, 2 walks, and 1 strikeout while surrendering 7 runs before collapsing.

Today was another repetition of this vicious cycle. Against SSG's starting pitcher Kim Geon-woo, who struggled in the top of the first inning, Hanwha scored four runs. With one out and bases loaded, a bases-loaded walk added one run; an infield grounder by Kim Tae-yeon resulted in an error by third baseman Ahn Sang-hyun for another run; Heo In-seo's sacrifice fly added one more, and Hwang Young-mok's sacrifice fly added the final point.

With a solid 4-0 lead providing support, Zimmermann entered the game but allowed two hits in the first inning while effectively containing the SSG lineup without surrendering any runs to finish the frame.

Cracks appeared starting in the second inning. With one out, he gave up a double to Choi Ji-hoon, and with two outs, he surrendered a left-field two-run home run to Ahn Sang-hyun. Although the pitch was high in the zone, his 142 km/h fastball was easily hittable.

He failed to regain composure even in the third inning. After allowing a hit to leadoff batter Park Sung-han, he also gave up a hit to Kim Jae-hwan with one out. With runners at first and second and one out, his curveball thrown to Jeon Ui-san drifted toward the middle of the plate, and the well-struck ball cleared the center field fence for a go-ahead three-run home run.

He never regained his composure afterward. While an infield hit allowed to Jo Hyung-woo might be excusable, he gave up another hit to Im Geon-woo even after striking out Choi Ji-hoon. Ultimately, he failed to complete the third inning and handed the ball over to Lee Hyeong-beom.

The biggest problem is that he has allowed far too many hits. In just five games spanning 16 innings, while walks were limited to only seven, he surrendered a staggering 36 hits. Among these, five were home runs—one per game on average. His batting average against reached an alarming 0.429, and his ERA climbed from 13.50 to 14.06.

A pitcher whose strength lies in control is failing to utilize it effectively, making him an easy target for opposing batters. Today, his fastball topped out at only 146 km/h. He mixed various pitches including curveballs, sliders, changeups, and cutters, throwing 43 of his 63 pitches for strikes, yet they appeared perfectly hittable to SSG batters. Unable to maintain the four-run lead amid heavy hitting, he left with a sense of disappointment.

Before Zimmermann's first appearance, Hanwha was in sixth place, trailing fifth by 2.5 games. Now, they have fallen to eighth place, widening the gap to nine games. With Zimmermann continuing to explode with each outing, Hanwha's hopes for the autumn playoffs are effectively gone.

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*This content was translated by AI.