Hanwha's Kim Kyung-moon-led team clinched victory in the opening match of the 2025 season with a powerful late-game push. The '5 billion won free agent' Shim Woo-jun hit a double against his former team, which was recorded as the game-winning hit.

The Hanwha Eagles won 4-3 against the KT Wiz in the opening game of the 2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 22nd.

The home team KT rostered their starting lineup against Hanwha ace KODI Ponse, which included players such as Kang Baek-ho (designated hitter), Mel Rojas Jr. (right fielder), Heo Kyung-min (third baseman), Kim Min-hyuk (left fielder), Jang Seong-woo (catcher), Moon Sang-cheol (first baseman), Cheon Seong-ho (second baseman), Bae Jeong-dae (center fielder), and Kim Sang-su (shortstop).

KT manager Lee Kang-cheol noted, "The batters placed in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th spots have fewer strikeouts and good contact. They are players who can hit ground balls in the infield," explaining the reason for the unconventional lineup. He added, "Jesus is planned to throw around 90 to 95 pitches today."

In response, Hanwha faced KT's ace Emmanuel de Jesus with a lineup of Kim Tae-yeon (left fielder), Moon Hyun-bin (designated hitter), Esteban Florial (center fielder), Noh Si-hwan (third baseman), Chae Eun-sung (first baseman), Ahn Chi-hong (second baseman), Lim Jong-chan (right fielder), Choi Jae-hoon (catcher), and Shim Woo-jun (shortstop).

One notable point was that Shim Woo-jun, a Hanwha player, was placed ninth in the batting order. After completing the 2024 season, Shim exercised his first free agency rights and signed a contract with Hanwha on December 7 for a maximum of 5 billion won (guaranteed 4.2 billion won, option 800 million won). It was also the moment when the first transfer of the 10-year Wiz fan, who joined as a founding member of KT in 2014, was realized. Coincidentally, he took on the starting ninth batter role facing his former team from the very first game.

KT strongly pressured Ponse from the beginning of the first inning. Lead-off hitter Kang Baek-ho connected with a low two-seam fastball from Ponse, hitting it to a double with a technical swing. Following that, Rojas calmly helped Kang advance to third base with a team hit, and Kim Min-hyuk, appearing with two outs and runners on second and third, delivered a one-RBI single that fell in front of the left fielder.

In the second inning, lead-off batter Moon Sang-cheol drew a walk, and after a balk by Ponse and a ground out by Cheon Seong-ho, reached third base. Then, Bae Jeong-dae came to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly to right field.

Hanwha initiated a counterattack in the top of the third inning. After two outs, Shim Woo-jun reached base with a straight walk against the previously perfect Jesus and successfully stole second base. Then, Kim Tae-yeon hit a fortunate one-RBI single that dropped in a tricky spot between the left fielder and shortstop.

KT squandered several opportunities to extend their lead starting in the third inning. In the bottom of the third, Heo Kyung-min and Kim Min-hyuk hit consecutive singles to set up runners on first and second, but Jang Seong-woo struck out, and Moon Sang-cheol flew out to right field. In the sixth inning, after one out, Rojas and Heo Kyung-min hit consecutive singles, but Kim Min-hyuk ended the inning with a double play between the second baseman, shortstop, and first baseman. In the sixth, after a double by Cheon Seong-ho and a hit by Bae Jeong-dae resulting from a hit by pitch, the chance was wasted as Kim Sang-su struck out swinging.

After a crisis, a chance emerged. Hanwha's lineup surged in the top of the seventh inning, starting with lead-off hitter Chae Eun-sung's single to center field. Following that, during the at-bat of pinch hitter Hwang Young-mook, base runner Lee Won-seok stole second base, and Hwang Young-mook hit a one-RBI double to deep right field, tying the game. With one out and a runner on second, subsequent hitter Lee Jae-won was retired via a strikeout, but Shim Woo-jun hit a game-winning two-RBI double to right-center, delivering a significant blow to his former team.

KT's last chance came in the bottom of the ninth inning, where lead-off hitter Kim Sang-su hit a solo home run, but it was not enough to tie the game. With Kang Baek-ho's single continuing the inning with no outs and a runner on first, Rojas struck out, and Kang Baek-ho's failure to steal second cut off the momentum for the rally.

Hanwha's starting pitcher Ponse, in his debut match, pitched 5 innings, allowing 7 hits, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts, and 2 earned runs, throwing 87 pitches. He was followed by Park Sang-won (1 inning, no earned runs), Kim Seo-hyun (1 inning, no earned runs), Han Seung-hyuk (1 inning, no earned runs), and Joo Hyun-sang (1 inning, 1 earned run), with Park Sang-won earning his first win and Joo Hyun-sang claiming his first save.

KT's starting pitcher Jesus pitched 6 innings, allowing 2 hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts, and 1 earned run, throwing 94 pitches, but the failing bullpen led to his loss. The losing pitcher was Kim Min-soo, who allowed 2 earned runs in ⅔ inning. Heo Kyung-min's three-hit performance was overshadowed by the defeat.

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