Hanwha Eagles manager Kim Kyung-moon expressed期待for ace Ryu Hyun-jin (38).
On the 27th, during an interview before the practice game against SSG Landers held at Gochinda Stadium in Okinawa, Japan, Kim Kyung-moon said, "Even if it's a practice game, it doesn't feel bad to win. The atmosphere and condition of the team as a whole seem fine."
Hanwha achieved a 7-6 comeback victory in a practice game against KT Wiz held at Gochinda Stadium on the 26th, marking their second consecutive victory in practice games. Starting pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin pitched brilliantly with 2 innings, allowing 2 hits, striking out 2, and not allowing any runs, while Lee Won-seok and Im Jong-chan contributed pivotal runs to lead to victory.
Kim Kyung-moon noted, "Last year, Ryu Hyun-jin joined the Okinawa camp late due to a delayed contract. As a result, there were parts Ryu Hyun-jin regretted after the season ended. This year, he seems to have prepared his body really well. In fact, the mound he pitched on yesterday wasn’t that great. Still, it was impressive to see his clean pitching as a great pitcher."
"Right now, it's not important how many hits are made or how many runs are given," emphasized Kim Kyung-moon. "He threw 2 innings without focusing on speed and executed his control well. I also think it was good to see him pondering which pitch to throw next."
Efforts to utilize mobility in the batting lineup are ongoing. The experiment with leadoff hitter Shim Woo-jun is part of that context. On this day, Hanwha's starting lineup included Shim Woo-jun (shortstop), Choi In-ho (designated hitter), An Chi-hong (second baseman), Noh Si-hwan (third baseman), Chae Eun-sung (first baseman), Kim Tae-young (left fielder), Im Jong-chan (right fielder), Lee Jae-won (catcher), and Lee Won-seok (center fielder). The starting pitcher is Ryan Weis.
Kim Kyung-moon remarked, "There haven't been many noticeable scenes in base running yet," and added, "We will try to be more proactive in base running. Even if it results in going out trying to advance an extra base when entering the game, we will actively attempt to advance an extra base." He continued, "There's no way to criticize being out. It might look reckless at times, but if we do that, the players won't be able to run. We can't save everything from the start. We learn how to live while facing challenges."
Kim Seo-hyun and Jeong Woo-jun are pitchers generating significant期待in Hanwha's bullpen this season. In the last game, Kim Seo-hyun showcased a powerful performance with a hitless inning, allowing 2 hits and no runs during his first consecutive appearance. Kim Kyung-moon said, "I let him pitch consecutively for the first time among pitchers during spring camp, and he seems fine in terms of strength. The pitching coach mentioned that since he can rest today and tomorrow, he was planning to make him pitch again. Kim Seo-hyun's condition is the best right now." He added, "I hope he can dial it back a bit. He's really confident and eager right now, which causes some concern. Nonetheless, he's quite spirited."
Jeong Woo-jun recorded 1 inning with 3 hits allowed, 2 walks, 1 strikeout, and 2 earned runs in his last game. Kim Kyung-moon remarked, "I think Jeong Woo-jun felt it was a game where he could learn more after finishing. However, his velocity has consistently been around 150 km
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