In his debut year, 'Baby Eagle' Jeong Woo-joo has fulfilled his dream of being included in the opening roster and is expected to steadily gain first-team experience alongside his fellow rookie Kwon Min-kyu.
Hanwha Eagles manager Kim Gyeong-moon met with reporters on the 22nd at the opening game against KT Wiz at Suwon KT Wiz Park, where he shared the development plan for rookie duo Jeong Woo-joo and Kwon Min-kyu.
Manager Kim said, "I would like to keep them both on the first team as much as possible, but for now, I plan to let them gain experience in less pressured roles rather than in a winning situation. Both have talent, so if they start competing with the first-team players, their confidence will gradually build, and we don’t know how they might develop in the future. That's why they are not part of the winning team right now."
Jeong Woo-joo made a name for himself as a high school pitcher with a strong fastball that reached a top speed of 156 km/h. Last year, he posted a 5-1 record with a 1.31 earned run average over 19 games, throwing 54⅔ innings and striking out 94 while issuing only 21 walks. This performance earned him the second overall pick by Hanwha in the 2025 rookie draft, and he signed a professional contract worth 500 million won.
Left-handed pitcher Kwon Min-kyu, unlike Jeong Woo-joo, gained attention for his precise control in high school. Last year, as a senior, he showcased his skills with a 6-3 record and a 1.50 earned run average over 16 games (54⅓ innings, 9 earned runs) and 52 strikeouts, earning him a professional contract as the 12th pick in the second round. The signing bonus was 160 million won.
The two players, as top prospects that the team and fans hope for, have headed to Australia and Japan for first-team spring training to prepare for their debut season. In exhibition games, Jeong demonstrated his strong fastball with a top speed of 154 km/h, achieving a 0 earned run average with one hold in three games, while Kwon also left an impressive mark with two holds and a 0 earned run average in three games. Both players fulfilled their dreams of being included in the opening roster.
But why didn’t the manager assign these star prospects to the key roles? Kim stated, "I want to see them play comfortably when we are behind and compete against the seniors. To be honest, I want to keep both players on the first team for as long as possible. Completing a year in the first team would provide significant learning opportunities. However, considering the team's circumstances and performance, I will assess the situation before making a decision."
As future pillars of Hanwha, he also offered them advice. Kim noted, "I told the two players not to try too hard to impress, but to just play as they’ve learned. What we want right now is for them to step on the mound and show their youthful perseverance. They shouldn’t try to win with tricks. If they can demonstrate that they won’t shy away, the manager will be patient. Both are young but show great potential."
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