19-year-old KT Wiz rookie pitcher Kim Dong-hyun was amazed as he watched the pitching of a senior who had played in Major League Baseball up close.

On the 26th, Kim Dong-hyun made his start against the Hanwha Eagles at Gochinda, Okinawa, Japan, recording 3 innings with 2 hits, 1 walk, and no runs.

Kim Dong-hyun, facing the ace representing Korea, Ryu Hyun-jin, in the starting matchup, flawlessly retired the Hanwha top batting order of Lee Jin-young, Ahn Chi-hong, and Moon Hyun-bin in the bottom of the first inning. In the second inning, he recorded the lead-off batter Noh Si-hwan as a ground ball and walked Chae Eun-seong but retired both Kim Tae-yeon and Lee Won-seok on fly balls.

In the third inning, Kim Dong-hyun took the mound again and allowed a hit to lead-off batter Choi Jae-hun. However, he induced a 5-4-3 double play from Shim Woo-jun, recording two outs in a single play. He allowed a hit to Lee Jin-young but managed to retire Ahn Chi-hong on a fly ball to left field, finishing the inning without allowing a run. In the fourth inning, with both teams tied at 0-0, he was substituted for Moon Yong-ik, concluding his appearance. Kim Dong-hyun threw a total of 34 pitches, including 27 fastballs, 5 forks, 1 curve, and 1 slider, with a top fastball speed of 145 km/h.

Right-handed pitcher Kim Dong-hyun, whose name was called in the first round (9th overall pick) of the 2025 rookie draft, is expected to be one of the promising players who can play in the first team right away this season. Manager Lee Kang-chul noted in an interview before the game, "Kim Dong-hyun has good stuff. His control is a bit shaky, but I want to take a look. He only pitched about 10 innings last year. I'm thinking of using him in the bullpen early on if he shows signs of improving his control."

Kim Dong-hyun, who kept the Hanwha lineup scoreless for 3 innings, said, "I felt really good today. This was my first match against a professional team, and the opposing starting pitcher was my senior Ryu Hyun-jin, whom I watched when I first started playing baseball, so I might have felt nervous. However, catcher Kang Hyun-woo led me well, and in situations where I could get rattled, I was supported by good defense, which I think contributed to a great game result. There is a lot of preparation for a professional starting pitcher, and the trainers also helped a lot. I feel satisfied that I could show all my skills in good condition."

Kim Dong-hyun, who said, "In Australia, I was just focused on pitching with tension," reflected, "Coach Je Chun-mo and Manager Lee Kang-chul helped me find my balance yesterday. I thought there would be good results, but when I went up to pitch, my balance was even better. I did a lot of image training, and having good results made me very proud."

The starting pitcher for Hanwha that day was ace Ryu Hyun-jin, representing Korea. Ryu Hyun-jin played in Major League Baseball from 2013 to 2023, recording a career total of 186 games (1,055⅓ innings) with 78 wins and 48 losses, and an earned run average of 3.27. Last season, he returned to Korea, signing with Hanwha for a total of 17 billion won over 8 years, and recorded 28 games (158⅓ innings) with 10 wins, 8 losses, and an earned run average of 3.87.

Kim Dong-hyun, who watched Ryu Hyun-jin pitch up close, joked, "I felt a bit of a reality check," and added, "Ryu Hyun-jin senior lightly throws strikes while recording ground outs and strikeouts, while I'm throwing with all my might. The senior just easily throws and it's the end of the inning. I watched Major League games often, but seeing it in person, he seems even more impressive and cooler. I respect him and think he’s great."

[OSEN = Okinawa, Gil Jun-young Reporter]