"Rather than being tense, I was actually more combative." A gutsy 22-year-old Hanwha prodigy batter exploded with three hits! How did he take down a Japanese ace he had never faced before?

*This content was translated by AI.

Indeed, the guts of this prodigy batter who led his team all the way to the Korean Series at such a young age was extraordinary. Moon Hyun-bin (22·Hanwha Eagles) revealed the behind-the-scenes story of his go-ahead RBI in the gold medal-deciding game.

Moon Hyun-bin returned to Korea via Incheon International Airport on the 28th after concluding the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The day before (the 27th), South Korea defeated Japan 3-1 in the final held at Toyota City General Stadium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. This victory completed five consecutive gold medals at the Asian Games since the 2010 Guangzhou tournament.

At the heart of South Korea's batting lineup in the final was Moon Hyun-bin. Starting as the seventh batter and left fielder, he played brilliantly with three hits in five at-bats and one RBI. In particular, with no outs and runners on second base in the bottom of the second inning, he hit a go-ahead two-run single against Japanese starter Higuichi Shin, giving South Korea an early lead.

It was not an easy opponent. Higuichi had been the pitcher who shut down the Korean lineup scoreless just two days prior in the Super Round. At that time, South Korea suffered a complete defeat to Japan with a 0-5 score. Moon Hyun-bin did not even participate in that game and faced Higuichi for the first time in the final without having directly experienced his pitches at the plate. At this moment, the method Moon Hyun-bin chose was 'questioning' and 'choosing'.

Moon Hyun-bin said, "I didn't play in that game, so I couldn't hit him directly. I kept asking for advice." He added, "It seems we were able to win because the performance analysis team did a great job analyzing him." He further emphasized, "His control was extremely good. Rather than trying to see every pitch, I had to decide whether to go in on an inside or outside pitch. I went in with the thought of hitting only the outside pitch."

The awaited pitch came, and the bat reacted. The final match of the Korea-Japan rivalry with a gold medal on the line was a stage where one could expect to be extremely nervous in any baseball career, but Moon Hyun-bin's description was different. Moon Hyun-bin said, "Fortunately, we got a good result. It seems that our thorough performance analysis led to this positive outcome." He reflected, "(In the final) I don't think I was extremely nervous. I felt more combative; the tension wasn't that high."

The entire team was focused on one thought: they must defeat Japan. Moon Hyun-bin said, "Since we lost once in a previous game against Japan, I think we fought with all our might." He added, "Baseball is a team sport. It seems the teammates banded together tightly to achieve a good result." He further added, "(After losing the Korea-Japan Super Round match) We only talked about winning unconditionally. We were devoted to winning that game. Rather than words, we showed our actions on the baseball field; teammates who did not play in the game shouted 'fighting' when others came to bat."

The strong pitching on the mound also gave strength to Moon Hyun-bin, who stood at the plate. He recalled, "(Kwak) Bin-hyung seemed to have boarded the bus well. Hyung Bin-hyung, (Jo) Byung-hyun, and (Park) Young-hyun blocked them so well that I was grateful. Watching from behind, since Japanese batters couldn't hit the ball, I kept thinking, 'If we score just a few runs, we will win.'"

The presence of national team captain Noh Si-hwan (26·Hanwha) and the members from the Hangzhou tournament also provided solid support. Moon Hyun-bin said, "(Noh) Si-hwan-hyung did a great job leading the atmosphere as captain. When we were getting a bit excited, he helped us relax so we could play well." He smiled, "Hyung Si-hwan always said, 'I have never failed in the national team.' I am so happy that we won the gold medal by trusting only him."

He continued, "The hyungs who won the gold medal in Hangzhou played even better, and thanks to them, we also won the championship. I feel truly grateful. (If I get to participate in the Asian Games four years from now) I will try my best to be helpful once again."

Although he secured a gold medal, Moon Hyun-bin has little time to rest. While on the national team, he consistently followed Hanwha games, and upon returning home today, he heads straight to Daegu where Hanwha is playing. Moon Hyun-bin smiled, "The Asian Games are important, but now my affiliated team is also important, so I kept following the games and cheering. Fortunately, they broke their losing streak yesterday, so I will be able to join the team with a happy heart."

He then conveyed his sincerity: "Nagoya's weather was harsh, and the distance to the stadium was far, so it must have been difficult for fans to come. Nevertheless, you supported us with such passion. I consider this gold medal as one we won together with the fans and will never forget my gratitude. I will always do my best on the field, and after going to my affiliated team, I will work even harder for Hanwha fans to achieve a glorious conclusion."

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*This content was translated by AI.