The Hanwha Eagles' closer has been replaced after just four games this season.

Kim Seo-hyun, a 160 km/h fireballer, will take over as the closer for Hanwha. Joo Hyun-sang, who had been active as the closer since last year, struggled early in the season with a 20.26 earned run average and was sent down to the second team.

Hanwha manager Kim Kyung-moon announced on the 27th at Jamsil Stadium that Kim Seo-hyun will take over as the new closer. On that day, Hanwha removed Joo Hyun-sang and Kwon Kwang-min from the first-team roster and registered starting pitcher Moon Dong-joo and bullpen pitcher Jo Dong-wook to the first team.

Joo Hyun-sang took the mound in the 6th inning the day before, on the 25th, against Hanwha. From that day, his role shifted from closer to middle reliever. Joo came in during the 6th inning with two outs and a 0-2 deficit, allowing three hits, one walk, and two earned runs in one-third of an inning.

He allowed a surprise bunt hit to the first batter, Park Hae-min, and due to a bad throw from the third baseman to first base, the runner advanced to second. With two outs and a runner on second base, he gave up an RBI single to Shin Min-jae. After issuing a walk to Hong Chang-ki, he allowed another RBI single to Moon Sung-joo with two outs and runners on first and second.

After continuing to struggle even as a middle reliever, a decision was made to send him to the second team. Manager Kim noted, "Rather than his pitching ability, he has really put in a lot of effort as our closer until now. He may understand the (position change) but still feels in his heart that it's not enough. So, I said to prepare his mind again before coming back. He's an important player who needs to play a key role on our team, so that’s why I excluded him."

They replaced the closer after just four games into the season. They made the change boldly because they had prepared to some extent.

Manager Kim explained, "(Joo Hyun-sang) did well last year too, but I always think a closer needs to be prepared. I had that in mind towards the end of last year, and back then Seo-hyun seemed a bit unfamiliar. Of course, if Seo-hyun takes over as the closer now, the closer role is not easy. There is a lot of pressure in knowing that you have to finish in the 9th inning compared to pitching in the 7th inning. I made the decision with a big picture in mind."

He added, "Since I had prepared mentally, if a player does not live up to expectations, the manager must always have a backup plan ready."

Joo Hyun-sang had a remarkable performance in 2023, appearing in 55 games with a record of 2 wins, 2 losses, and 12 holds, posting an earned run average of 1.96. Last year, he took on the closer role, appearing in 65 games with a record of 8 wins, 4 losses, 23 saves, 2 holds, and an earned run average of 2.65.

However, he was shaky from the start of the season this year. In three games after the opening, he pitched 1⅓ innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs, resulting in an earned run average of 20.26.

In the opening game against the KT Wiz, he recorded a save while pitching in the 9th inning with a 4-2 lead, but he allowed two hits (including one home run) and one earned run in one inning. He surrendered a solo home run to the lead-off batter, Kim Sang-soo, and allowed a hit to Kang Baek-ho, putting a runner on first base with no outs. He struck out Lo Hass, and the catcher caught a runner stealing second to escape the jam.

On the 23rd against KT, he came in during the 11th inning with one out and runners on second base in a 4-4 tie and allowed a walk-off hit. He issued a hit-by-pitch to lead-off batter Cheon Seong-ho on the first pitch and allowed a walk-off double to Bae Jung-dae. Then, on the 26th against LG, he came in as a middle reliever, recorded one out, and allowed two earned runs, which led him to temporarily go down to the second team for recharging.

Kim Seo-hyun, who joined Hanwha as the overall first pick in the 2023 draft, recorded a remarkable fastball of up to 160 km/h last year, appearing in 37 games with a record of 1 win, 2 losses, 10 holds, and an earned run average of 3.76. He had a great performance as a crucial player in the latter half of the season. This year, he has appeared in two games, recording one hold and an earned run average of 0. He has pitched two innings, allowing two hits, with no walks and no earned runs.

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