"They're protesting at the end of the season." Hanwha's "No. 1 dilemma" finally resolved, going all the way with the 'Sim Woo-jun card' [Incheon field]

*This content was translated by AI.

Season batting average: 0.267; when batting first: 0.441 (34 at-bats, 15 hits).

Sim Woo-jun (31) has secured the No. 1 spot in the Hanwha Eagles lineup as the season nears its end. Carrying a heavy sense of responsibility, his powerful hitting has earned him the role of leadoff hitter for the foreseeable future.

Kim Kyung-moon (68), manager of Hanwha, said ahead of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League away game against SSG Landers at Incheon SSG Landers Field on the 10th: "Seeing him protest at the end of the season as the leadoff hitter, he must have wanted to hit more from that spot. We considered moving him back after a few games, but since he's been performing well consistently at No. 1, we're pleased."

Hanwha set its starting lineup for the day with Sim Woo-jun (shortstop), Choi In-ho (center fielder), Moon Hyun-bin (left fielder), Kang Baek-ho (designated hitter), Noh Si-hwan (third baseman), Yonatan Peraza (right fielder), Kim Tae-yeon (first baseman), Jang Gyu-hyun (catcher), and Hwang Young-mok (second baseman). Starting pitcher: Park Jun-young (No. 96).

There were no changes to the lineup except for catcher Heo In-seo, who started on the bench for rest purposes. The team is maintaining a strong five-game winning streak. Notably, in the previous game against LG Twins, ace Carlos Carasco was pulled early, and all batters stepped up, driving in 19 runs for a decisive victory.

Sim Woo-jun, who returned to the leadoff spot after a long absence in the the 4th game against Lotte Giants, hit .423 (26 at-bats, 11 hits) with one home run, eight RBIs, and seven runs scored over the following five games, leading the team to its five-game winning streak.

The No. 1 spot in Hanwha's lineup has been one of the biggest concerns this season. Players including Oh Jae-won, Choi In-ho, Lee Jin-young, Lee Won-seok, and Kim Tae-yeon have all tried it, but no clear owner emerged. Oh Jae-won revived his form in the second half but was sidelined due to injury.

It's not just a matter of batting order. After the previous game, Sim Woo-jun told reporters: "I'm trying to build confidence at No. 1. I've adjusted my rhythm and bat position. I recalled SSG's Park Sung-han's rhythm, relaxed as much as possible, and dropped my hands lower, which made the bat feel light and fast." He expressed satisfaction with the adjustment.

Although Sim Woo-jun had shown ambition to be the leadoff hitter since spring training, he laughed and said: "I was ambitious back then. I'm very satisfied that I've proven I can perform well at No. 1. I don't know if I'll keep hitting from there until the end of the season, but if I do, I'd like to prepare as the leadoff hitter again starting next spring."

That wish has come true. Manager Kim Kyung-moon stated: "He continues to fulfill his role well. Unless he gets injured before the season ends, we plan to keep using him at No. 1."

Currently in seventh place, Hanwha trails fifth-place Doosan Bears by seven games. With only 22 games remaining, chasing a playoff berth is difficult, but the team has not given up yet. Manager Kim said: "It may be a bit late, but there are still about 22 games left. The lineup has become active since we started winning recently. I hope this momentum continues until the end of the season. Some players will leave for the Asian Games after three more games, and we believe other players will fill those gaps well and are preparing accordingly."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.