The Doosan Bears won both games of the exhibition series opener.
Doosan won 4-2 against the Hanwha Eagles in an exhibition game held at Cheongju Stadium on the 9th of March in the 2025 KBO League. Following the opening day's victory of 6-4 the previous day (8th), they won against Hanwha for two consecutive games to start a winning streak. Hanwha, which is expected to be a contender for the top five, suffered two consecutive losses at home in Cheongju.
Choi Won-jun, who is competing for the fifth starting spot, pitched four innings allowing two hits, one walk, two strikeouts, and one earned run. Leadoff hitter Kim Min-seok contributed significantly with two hits and two RBIs in five at-bats. After being traded from Lotte to Doosan following last season, Kim Min-seok has continued his excellent form from spring training, where he was named the team's MVP with a batting average of .375 (6 hits in 16 at-bats), and he extended his hitting streak to two consecutive games in the exhibition.
Doosan succeeded in taking the lead from the first inning. Against Hanwha starter Lee Sang-kyu, leadoff hitter Kim Min-seok hit a single, and Kim Jae-hwan followed up with a walk to create a scoring opportunity. Although Yang Eui-ji struck out, and Jake Cave hit into a groundout to first base, a passed ball by Hanwha catcher Lee Jae-won allowed runner Kim Min-seok to score the first run.
In the second inning, Doosan added three more runs. Yang Seok-hwan and Oh Myung-jin hit consecutive first-pitch singles, followed by Park Jun-young's single that loaded the bases with no outs. Jang Su-bin hit an infield fly, but Hanwha second baseman Ahn Chi-hong dropped the ball, allowing all the runners to advance one base. Runner Yang Seok-hwan scored as the second run came home.
With one out and runners on second and third, Kim Min-seok hit a two-RBI single, extending Doosan's lead to 4-0. Kim Min-seok connected with Lee Sang-kyu's outside changeup, using his signature bat control to drive the ball for a single in front of the center fielder. He finished with two hits and two RBIs in three at-bats.
Hanwha, held to one hit through the third inning by Doosan starter Choi Won-jun, managed to score its first run in the bottom of the fourth. After one out, Esteban Florial reached on a walk, and No Si-hwan connected with a right-center single to put runners on first and third. There, Chae Eun-sung hit a right field sacrifice fly. As second baseman Oh Myung-jin caught the ball and fell at the right field position, runner Florial dashed home.
In the bottom of the fifth, Hanwha added another run. Against Doosan left-hander Lee Byeong-heon, leadoff hitter Im Jong-chan reached base with a single, and Lee Jae-won followed with a walk to create an opportunity. In a one-out situation with runners on first and third, Lee Jin-young hit a right field single to add another run. However, there were no further runs, resulting in a total of two hits and two runs.
Doosan starter Choi Won-jun pitched four innings, allowing two hits, one walk, two strikeouts, and one earned run. He faced 58 batters, achieving a fastest pitch of 144 km/h and an average of 139 km/h with 22 fastballs, along with 18 forks, 16 sliders, and 2 curves, showing his competitiveness as a fifth starter candidate. The second pitcher Lee Byeong-heon allowed two hits and one walk with one strikeout and one earned run in one inning, followed by the third pitcher Kim Yoo-sung, who was responsible through the ninth inning. He pitched four innings, allowed two hits, one walk, two strikeouts and no earned runs, continuing his fight for the fifth starter position.
Hanwha starter Lee Sang-kyu suffered the loss after pitching 2.1 innings, allowing six hits, two walks, three strikeouts, and four runs (three earned). He faced 60 batters, achieving a fastest pitch of 144 km/h and an average of 143 km/h with 11 fastballs, along with 20 cutters, 14 two-seam fastballs, 9 sweepers, 5 changeups, and 1 forkball.
Although Lee Sang-kyu left with a sense of regret, the second pitcher Jo Dong-wook made a strong impression with a perfect outing, striking out three batters over 2⅔ innings without allowing any runs. He faced 27 batters, achieving a fastest pitch of 144 km/h and an average of 142 km/h with 12 fastballs, coupled with effective sliders (11) and changeups (4), dominating the Doosan lineup. Afterward, Lee Tae-yang, Kim Seo-hyun, Park Sang-won, and Han Seung-hyuk each pitched one inning without allowing any runs.
Ha Joo-seok, who was promoted to the first team that day, was substituted into the game as a defensive shortstop in the top of the eighth inning and announced his return by hitting a single in the bottom of the ninth.
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