Hanwha Eagles manager Kim Kyung-moon responded with "thank you" to SSG Landers manager Lee Seung-yong's heartfelt concern and apology. The story goes as follows: Hanwha's Ahn Chi-hong nearly suffered a serious injury from a hit-by-pitch, and after the game, Lee Seung-yong personally visited to offer an apology.

On the 10th, a spring game was held at Incheon SSG Landers Field between Hanwha and SSG. Ahn Chi-hong started in the 6th spot as a second baseman.

Ahn Chi-hong reached base with a right-field single against SSG starter Song Young-jin after two outs in the second inning. In the fourth inning, as the leadoff batter, he was hit by a fastball (139 km) on the third pitch with a count of one ball and one strike. After showing signs of pain for a while, Ahn Chi-hong walked to first base and was immediately replaced by a pinch runner, YIDO.

Afterward, Ahn Chi-hong moved to a nearby hospital for examination. Fortunately, there was no major injury. A Hanwha team official noted, "Ahn Chi-hong underwent an X-ray at the hospital and was diagnosed with no significant issues." They were relieved it was merely a bruise.

The next day, on the 11th, Ahn Chi-hong was excluded from the starting lineup in the spring game between Hanwha and SSG at the same location. Before the game, manager Kim Kyung-moon commented on Ahn Chi-hong's injury, saying, "Fortunately, he was hit on the side of his hand, not on the back of his hand. It would have been a bit dangerous if he had been hit on the back of his hand. I remember him getting hit about three times in the past, so he must have been quite surprised, but I'm very relieved it's only this much."

Furthermore, manager Kim said, "If someone gets hurt during the game and has to take six months off, the entire team becomes very (difficult)... The opponent feels sorry too. Today, I will give him a little rest and he will take a break tomorrow. I plan to assess him again the day after tomorrow and hope he can play in the game." He expressed relief that there was no major injury.

He also thanked SSG manager Lee Seung-yong. Manager Kim said, "In fact, it's even more appreciated when the opposing manager comes to talk after the game, and although he is a junior manager, it is very nice that we check on each other. I was very grateful to this manager."

Immediately after the spring game on the 10th, manager Lee Seung-yong ran over to the Hanwha dugout to apologize to manager Kim about Ahn Chi-hong's hit-by-pitch incident.

After the 2023 season, Ahn Chi-hong obtained free agent status and signed a 4+2 year contract worth up to 7.2 billion won with Hanwha. Last year, he played in 128 games, recording a batting average of .300 (142 hits in 473 at-bats), 13 home runs, 66 RBIs, and 64 runs.

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