I didn't realize it when we were together, but meeting as opponents made it very tricky and difficult. The defeat in the opening game against KT Wiz hit hard, even more so after facing Shim Woo-jun.

KT Wiz manager Lee Kang-cheol wore a bittersweet smile on the 23rd at the news of his former disciple Shim Woo-jun's performance ahead of the second match of the 2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League against the Hanwha Eagles.

After finishing last season, Shim Woo-jun, who transferred to Hanwha for a total of 5 billion won over 4 years, shone in his first meeting against his old team, going 1-for-3 with 1 RBI, 1 run, 1 walk, and 1 stolen base, leading the team to a 4-3 comeback victory. With Shim Woo-jun's contributions, Hanwha tasted an opening day victory for the first time in 5 years since 2020.

Shim Woo-jun troubled his former team from his first at-bat. With KT trailing 0-2 in the third inning and two outs, he drew a straight walk against KT's starting pitcher Enmanuel De Jesus, successfully stole second base, and scored on a lucky hit by Kim Tae-yeon.

After a breath-catching strikeout in the fifth inning, Shim Woo-jun came to bat for the third time in the seventh inning with two outs and two runners on base, when the game was tied 2-2. He hit a go-ahead double to right-center against his former teammate Kim Min-soo, standing out as the hero of the opening game.

Manager Lee Kang-cheol noted, "Shim Woo-jun is always a concern. I worry he might get hits when he shouldn't. Perhaps other teams thought that when he was with our team, too. He’s a player you absolutely have to get out. Yesterday, ultimately, issuing him a straight walk in the third inning led to a run. It shifted the momentum by allowing runs we shouldn’t have given. Shim Woo-jun is difficult once he gets on base. Also, De Jesus' quick motion is relatively slow."

He added, "Ultimately, if the 8th and 9th hitters get on base and connect to the 1st and 2nd hitters, it leads to high scoring and significant losses. In fact, apart from Shim Woo-jun, there are hitters in every team that they don’t want to see at the plate."

Meanwhile, KT, aiming for redemption, set its starting lineup against Hanwha's starting pitcher Ryan Weiss to include Kang Baek-ho (designated hitter), Mel Rojas Jr. (right fielder), Heo Kyung-min (third baseman), Kim Min-hyeok (left fielder), Jang Seong-woo (catcher), Moon Sang-cheol (first baseman), Cheon Seong-ho (second baseman), Bae Jeong-dae (center fielder), and Kim Sang-soo (shortstop). It is the same batting order as the previous day.

The starting pitcher is William Cuevas.

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