'Birth of a Right-Handed Power Hitter Who Clears the Monster Wall' Han Ji-yoon's Praise: "If Moon Hyun-bin Goes to the Asian Games, He Will Continue Playing in Left Field"... Han Ji-yoon Has Earned His Spot with a Stamp of Approval

*This content was translated by AI.

"(Moon) Hyun-bin will continue playing in that position if he goes (to the Asian Games)."

Han Ji-yoon (20), a promising right-handed power hitter who launched a grand slam over the 8th-meter-high Monster Wall, has firmly earned the approval of Kim Kyung-moon (68), manager of the Hanwha Eagles.

On the 9th at Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark, in a home game against LG Twins, Han Ji-yoon hit a massive bases-loaded home run that cleared the Monster Wall in the bottom of the 8th inning. Facing Jo Won-tae with two outs and a full count at 1-1, he boldly swung at a high pitch well outside the strike zone. The ball soared toward the right-field fence, broke through the Monster Wall, and secured his first career grand slam.

For a right-handed hitter to clear the Monster Wall is no easy feat. To clear the 8th-meter-high Monster Wall, the launch angle cannot be too low, and sufficient power must be generated; thus, it is uncommon for a right-handed batter to simply push the ball over.

This also demonstrates that Han Ji-yoon knows how to generate significant power on his hits. This season, he has appeared in 24 games, hitting four home runs and two doubles. His slugging percentage stands at 0.534, clearly showcasing his strength as a power hitter.

Manager Kim Kyung-moon could not hide his pleased smile. "It is not easy for someone so young to hit a ball like that. I believe he has great potential. Once (Moon) Hyun-bin goes (to the Asian Games), Han Ji-yoon will continue playing in that position," he stated.

He continued, "Despite his young age, he shows natural talent. He was originally a catcher but switched to an outfielder quickly to maximize his hitting ability after showing strong throwing skills. A young player is performing well. He is not yet at the age where we should expect too much, but I hope he continues to compete, facing good pitchers and dealing with strikeouts and double plays."

Since his second year at Gyeonggi High School, he gained attention by winning the Star Award at the Futures Star Awards, hosted and organized by StarNews, based on his outstanding skills. Han Ji-yoon, who had been a dominant catcher, was selected as the 22nd pick in the third round of the 2025 Rookie Draft by Hanwha but showed strong throwing ability and switched to an outfielder after completing his first season.

Han Ji-yoon steadily gained practical experience as an outfielder in the Futures League before being called up to the first division in July, making his KBO League debut. Equipped with solid power-hitting tools, he has delivered impressive performances on several occasions.

Manager Kim Kyung-moon had indicated that if Moon Hyun-bin and Noh Si-hwan leave for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, Park Jeong-hyun would compete for third base while Han Ji-yoon and Yu Min-i would compete for left field. However, this single bases-loaded home run over the Monster Wall has secured Han Ji-yoon a spot on the priority list.

Although his batting average in the Futures League was only 0.220, he is shining brighter in the first division with 24 games played, posting a.293 batting average (58 at-bats, 17 hits), four home runs, 19 RBIs, nine runs scored, a.339 on-base percentage, a.534 slugging percentage, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.873. His batting average with runners in scoring position (.450) and as a pinch hitter (.417) are also outstanding, further increasing his utility.

Han Ji-yoon said, "There is much to learn, and I feel many shortcomings myself. When asking my seniors, I realize what kind of approach I should take."

As the designated replacement for Moon Hyun-bin, he added, "I am trying not to overthink and just play as I normally do. The team was on a losing streak, but recently our pitchers have been throwing well and batters are hitting consistently. If I get to play, I want to help maintain that good balance between pitching and hitting."

He admitted there is still room for improvement defensively. "It has only been six months since my switch to an outfielder. There may be mistakes, but I am working hard, and I believe my skills will improve with continued practice. For the rest of the season, I will learn a lot from my seniors and coaches and strive to show a spirited and positive image."

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*This content was translated by AI.