The new closer for the Hanwha Eagles, Kim Seo-hyun (21), overcame the nerve-wracking pressure of a one-point game and became the owner of the first save at the Daejeon Shin-gong Stadium.
On the 29th, Kim Seo-hyun pitched in relief in a home game against the KIA Tigers in the 2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League at Hanwha Life Baseball Park in Daejeon, finishing with no hits, one walk, and one strikeout in one inning, thereby securing Hanwha's 5-4 victory. This was his first save of the season and the first save at Daejeon Shin-gong Stadium.
Trailing 3-4 in the bottom of the 8th, Hanwha began with a hit from lead-off hitter Chae Eun-sung and brought in three consecutive pinch hitters, putting pressure on the KIA bullpen. Following a bloop hit from Moon Hyun-bin and a passed ball by KIA catcher Han Jun-soo, with runners on second and third base and no outs, Lee Do-yoon grounded out to shortstop after a tough battle lasting nine pitches, bothering Jo Sang-woo. Then, pinch hitter Ahn Chi-hong struck a two-RBI single to left field off the new pitcher Hwang Dong-ha, leading to a 5-4 turnaround.
In the top of the 9th, Hanwha sent the new closer Kim Seo-hyun to the mound. The previous closer, Joo Hyun-sang, was demoted to the second team for reconditioning, and Kim Seo-hyun took over that position. Though there wasn't a save situation during the game against KIA on the 28th, the first game at Daejeon Shin-gong Stadium, he came out in a no-out, runners on first and second base crisis in the 9th inning and shutdown the opposition without allowing any runs, capping off a comeback victory of 7-2.
Hanwha manager Kim Kyung-moon noted before the game on the 29th regarding Kim Seo-hyun, "The closer position will likely be a significant burden. Sometimes there will be blown saves, but I hope he can feel comfortable in that role as he gains experience. I hope the 'closer' suit fits him well."
And the genuine closer's first save opportunity arrived. In a situation under pressure with a one-point lead, he started off shakily by throwing consecutive balls to the first batter, Park Jae-hyun. While Pitching Coach Yang Sang-moon came to the mound to break the rhythm, Kim Seo-hyun threw consecutive balls on his 3rd and 4th pitches, resulting in a straight walk.
However, after getting the next batter, Kim Gyu-sung, to swing and miss on a slider for a strikeout, he forced Choi Won-jun to ground out to shortstop. With two outs and a runner on first, the contact hitter Kim Sun-bin came in as a pinch hitter. In a burdensome situation, Kim Seo-hyun remained composed, throwing a fastball for a strike on his first pitch and establishing a favorable count. After a 5-pitch battle, Kim Sun-bin also grounded out to shortstop, completing the game.
With a total of 18 pitches thrown, Kim Seo-hyun recorded a top speed of 154 km/h and an average of 152 km/h with 11 fastballs and 7 sliders, marking his first save of the season and the first save at Daejeon Shin-gong Stadium. For Kim Seo-hyun personally, it had been 687 days since his debut save on May 12, 2023, against SSG in Munhak.
Thanks to Ahn Chi-hong's turnaround hit and Kim Seo-hyun's save, Kim Jong-soo earned the win in relief. He pitched 1⅔ innings, allowing two walks but keeping a clean slate with no hits.
Kim Jong-soo expressed gratitude, saying, "The outcome was good, but the pitching process wasn't ideal. The defenders helped me out, and I definitely saw that (Ahn) Chi-hong, despite dealing with stomach issues, was still able to hit a turnaround hit. I was really grateful. I never thought (Kim) Seo-hyun would give up a run."
Hanwha also broke its four-game losing streak, achieving a rebound with two consecutive victories at Daejeon Shin-gong Stadium, bringing their season record to 3 wins and 4 losses, nearing .500.
After the game, Hanwha manager Kim Kyung-moon remarked, "In front of a full crowd (17,000 spectators) at a home game, we maintained our concentration in the cold weather until the end. I want to express my appreciation to the players who did their best for the team's victory."
Hanwha will aim for a sweep against KIA. On the 30th, Ryu Hyun-jin will take the mound as the starter, while Adam Oller will start for KIA.
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