Lotte Giants submarine pitcher Han Hyun-hee vowed to bounce back after surrendering a decisive three-run homer the previous day by throwing a remarkable 80 pitches in the bullpen.
Han Hyun-hee threw a total of 80 pitches during a bullpen session held during the Lotte team's training at Tanho Sports Park Baseball Field in Miyazaki, Japan, on the 24th.
Han Hyun-hee checked his feel primarily alongside starting catcher Yoo Kang-nam. Yoo Kang-nam offered advice, saying, “You need to throw harder. The ball isn’t getting here,” and Han Hyun-hee repeatedly made adjustments, gaining power in his pitches.
During the throwing session, manager Kim Tae-hyoung also approached Han Hyun-hee to discuss his pitching form. Pointing to the player's waist and lower body, he instructed him on something, and Han Hyun-hee nodded and threw a stronger and more precise pitch. Manager Kim Tae-hyoung also demonstrated an ideal pitching form for sidearm pitchers.
Han Hyun-hee became the losing pitcher after pitching one inning with four hits (one home run), one strikeout, and three earned runs in a practice game against the Seibu Lions held the previous day at Nango Stadium in Nichinan City, Miyazaki.
On the mound in the bottom of the third, leading 3-1, Han Hyun-hee calmly recorded two outs but then gave up an infield single to Nevin and a left field hit to Sedeño, allowing Leon to hit a painful three-run homer. Afterward, a hit from Takayoshi and a stolen base put two runners in scoring position with two outs, but he managed to end the inning by striking out Montel looking.
Han Hyun-hee signed a free agent contract with Lotte ahead of the 2023 season for a total of 4 billion won ($3 million signing bonus, 1.5 billion won guaranteed salary, and up to 3.7 billion won).
The past two years have been a series of disappointments. In his first year under contract, Han recorded six wins and 12 losses with a 5.45 earned run average over 38 games, and last year he posted five wins and three losses with a 5.19 ERA in 57 games, failing to meet expectations. Not finding a solid position, he frequently moved between starting and bullpen roles.
As time has passed, Han Hyun-hee finds himself in the final year of a three-year contract. If he fulfills the personal performance targets set by Lotte during the initial three seasons, he will be granted the right to opt out in 2026, making this year more important than ever.
On the 24th, Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyoung, who met Han Hyun-hee at the scene, said, “In fact, I still don’t know. Whether Han Hyun-hee throws a lot or a little in the bullpen, he ultimately needs to show it in the game. He is also trying to find something continuously.”
The player's determination also seemed resolute. After finishing his pitching, Han Hyun-hee approached manager Kim Tae-hyoung standing on the field and left a brief comment, saying, “I will show something this year,” before leaving the bullpen.