Um Sang-baek of the Hanwha Eagles, who had hoped to rebound this season, had a disappointing start after being ejected for a headshot in his first appearance of the season.
Um Sang-baek was registered to the first-team roster ahead of the home game against the KT Wiz in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League at Daejeon Hanwha Life Insurance Ballpark on the 31st and appeared as Hanwha's fourth pitcher that day, but he left the mound after recording 1/3 inning, 2 hits, 1 walk, and 1 earned run.
Ahead of the 2025 season, Um Sang-baek, who moved from the KT Wiz to Hanwha after signing a free-agent contract for up to 7.8 billion won with a four-year term, a signing bonus of 3.4 billion won, a total annual salary of 3.25 billion won, and options of 1.15 billion won, did not show last year what had been expected of him.
In the first half, Um Sang-baek appeared in 15 games and pitched only 64 innings, averaging just 4 2/3 innings per start; he recorded only one win as a starter, lost six games, and posted a 6.33 ERA. As a drastic measure he moved to the bullpen in the second half but did not show notable performance there either, finishing the regular season with below-expectation numbers of 80 2/3 innings, 2 wins, 7 losses, and a 6.58 ERA.
He left only regret after the playoffs with 2 earned runs in 2/3 inning and suffered the pain of being left off the Korean Series roster. Later a left ankle ligament injury was discovered and he spent time in the rehabilitation squad, and fortunately the injury was minor so he joined spring training without issue to prepare for the season.
Um Sang-baek wanted to rebound more than anyone else. Manager Kim Kyung-moon and teammates who observed his preparation process predicted Um would be able to show a different side. Kim Kyung-moon said, "If you work hard, you will surely be rewarded," and added, "If Sang-baek pitches well this year, I think that will help the team."
In this year's exhibition games, on the 15th he relieved in the SSG game, throwing three innings with two hits, no walks, one strikeout and no runs, but on the 21st in the Lotte game he started and gave up 10 hits and seven runs over four innings in a pitching performance of extremes. However, in the Futures League game against LG on the 26th, effectively the final check, he started and delivered a strong outing of five innings, four hits, two walks, three strikeouts and one earned run.
And that day was his first appearance of the season. Um Sang-baek seemed to get off to a good start by retiring leadoff Sam Hilliard on a flyball. But he immediately allowed a hit to Jang Sung-woo. Left fielder Moon Hyun-bin dropped the ball and it became a double, and Um then gave up a run when Kim Sang-su followed with a left-field double.
In the ensuing duel with Heo Kyung-min, after a foul on the first pitch, Um Sang-baek's second pitch, a 146 km/h fastball, struck Heo Kyung-min in the face. Heo collapsed on the field for a time, complaining of pain, and barely rose and reached first base before being replaced by pinch-runner Ryu Hyun-in. Um was ejected under the headshot rule and had to end his first appearance of the season in disappointing fashion.<
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