In a historic opening game at Daejeon Hanwha Life Park, the Hanwha Eagles scored their first victory with an exhilarating comeback. The lifesaver for Hanwha, which was scoreless until the 6th inning, was foreign pitcher KODI, who threw with a top speed of 156 km/h. With 105 pitches over 7 innings, he revived the struggling Hanwha.

Hanwha decorated their home opener and opening game against KIA in the 2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League with a 7-2 comeback victory. They made a joyful start by achieving a thrilling comeback in their historic first game at the new stadium.

Starting pitcher KODI became the first winning pitcher at the new stadium, pitching 7 innings with 7 hits allowed (1 home run), 1 walk, 8 strikeouts, and 2 earned runs. In the 7th inning alone, Hanwha rallied for a big inning scoring 5 runs, starting with a solo home run by Kim Tae-yeon, in front of a packed crowd of 17,000.

After the victory in the opener, Hanwha ended a 4-game losing streak, providing a turning point with their first win at the new stadium. In contrast, KIA, which faced their 3rd consecutive loss, fell to a 2-4 record, drifting away from a .500 win rate.

The first score at the new stadium went to the visiting KIA. In a tight pitching duel between Hanwha's KODI and KIA's James Naile through the 3rd inning, KIA broke through in the top of the 4th. With one out, Choi Hyung-woo attacked KODI's first pitch fastball, hitting a double to right-center, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. The 5th pitch fastball by KODI to Patrick Wisdom completely missed the outside. Wisdom then hit a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Choi Hyung-woo to touch home plate, marking the first score at the new stadium.

KODI continued his strong performance, not allowing additional runs until the top of the 6th. Using a powerful fastball combined with a waterfall-like changeup and curveball, he contained the KIA lineup. However, Hanwha's batting order struggled against KIA starter Naile and couldn't find a breakthrough. In the bottom of the 3rd, Hanwha had their first opportunity in scoring position with two outs at second base following a single by Choi Jae-hoon and a stolen base by Shim Woo-jun, but Choi In-ho grounded into a pitcher's out. In the bottom of the 4th, Estevan Florial and Chae Eun-sung walked, resulting in one out with runners on first and second, but Kim Tae-yeon's well-hit ball was snagged by KIA second baseman Kim Sun-bin, leading to a 4-6-3 double play.

In the bottom of the 5th, after one out, Choi Jae-hoon reached base with a single to center field, but while Shim Woo-jun was at bat, he was thrown out trying to steal second base. Shim Woo-jun showed a miscommunication when trying to lay down a bunt and pulling the bat back.

Then KIA eventually pulled ahead. In the top of the 7th, Wisdom pulled KODI's fastball, which came in at 153 km/h on the first pitch, over the left wall. It traveled 110 meters for his second home run of the season. This moment marked the first home run of the new stadium.

After that, KODI allowed 2 hits and faced a crisis with 2 outs and runners on first and third. Pitching coach Yang Sang-moon came to the mound after KODI's 101 pitches, but no change was made. KODI struck out the next batter, Byun Woo-hyuk, in four pitches, closing the inning himself. He mixed 49 fastballs, 26 curves, 16 changeups, 6 two-seamers, sliders, and 2 cutters, with a total of 105 pitches and a top speed of 156 km/h, averaging 153 km/h.

KODI gathered the fielders in front of the dugout after the 5th inning, shouting for motivation to lift the team's low spirits. Hanwha's batting lineup, which had been held to just 3 hits against KIA starter James Naile through the 6th inning, responded by attacking KIA's bullpen in the bottom of the 7th. After getting two outs against KIA's strong relief pitcher Jeon Sang-hyun, Kim Tae-yeon hit a solo home run, signaling the start of the comeback. He pulled a slider at 135 km/h that was close to him on the sixth pitch for a left-field solo shot, traveling 115 meters; it was the first home run at the new stadium for Hanwha players.

Following that, Im Jong-chan walked, and pinch hitter Lee Jin-young also earned a walk, forcing Jeon Sang-hyun to the bench. With two outs and runners on first and second, left-handed batter Moon Hyun-bin came to the plate, prompting KIA to bring in left-hander Kwak Do-kyu. However, Moon Hyun-bin also earned a walk after a full count, creating a bases-loaded opportunity. The next batter, Hwang Young-mook, also earned a walk, resulting in a push-in score, tying the game at 2-2. The winning condition for Naile disappeared, as Kwak Do-kyu became rattled allowing another run to be scored when he hit the next batter, Choi In-ho, with a two-seamer on the sixth pitch. This marked 5 consecutive walks allowed from Jeon Sang-hyun to Kwak Do-kyu.

KIA changed pitchers again to Lee Jun-young, but they could not stop Hanwha's momentum once it ignited. A mis-hit ball from Florial fell into left field, resulting in a 2-run double, widening the score to 5-2. They added 5 runs in a big inning after two outs in the 7th. In the bottom of the 8th, a fielding error from opposing shortstop Kim Gyu-sung and Lee Do-yoon's 1-RBI triple slicing through the left-center added 2 more runs, sealing the victory.

In the 8th inning, Park Sang-won and Lee Tae-yang of Hanwha went down with no outs while runners were on first and second, but new closer Kim Seo-hyun held his ground without allowing a run, completing the comeback. Park Sang-won earned his first hold of the season. Kim Tae-yeon led the Hanwha batting order with 2 hits, including a home run, in 4 at-bats with 1 RBI. KIA starter Naile pitched 6 innings, allowing 3 hits, 2 walks, and no runs while striking out 5, but the bullpen faltered, delaying his first win of the season. Jeon Sang-hyun, a key pitcher, suffered a loss allowing 3 earned runs in ⅔ inning. Choi Won-jun stood out with 2 hits.

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