The professional baseball Hanwha Eagles have been in last place for the past three years in a row. The win rate during this period was 0.339 (141 wins, 17 draws, 274 losses). It meant that if we played 6 games in a week, we would barely win 2 games.
But the future is not bleak. The lowest ranking paradoxically became an opportunity to select a high-level prospect every year in the rookie draft. Taking advantage of that opportunity, the promising picks are pitchers Moon Dong-ju (20) and Kim Seo-hyun (19).
Moon Dong-ju, born in 2003, and Kim Seo-hyun, born in 2004, have one thing in common: right-handed orthodox pitchers who dominated high school baseball. Both players caught the attention of scouts early on by throwing fast balls that exceeded 150 km/h. The two, wearing Hanwha uniforms side by side with a one-year gap, each received a significant down payment of 500 million won.
We recently met Moon Dong-ju and Kim Seo-hyun, the hopes of Hanwha, who are training for physical strength during the winter, at Daejeon Hanwha Life Eagles Park.
Kim Seo-hyun, who appeared wearing a practice uniform with the Hanwha team logo instead of the Seoul High School uniform she had worn for three years, said, “You can think of it as just exercising all day. He said, “When I am resting, I play games with my classmates. He sometimes goes out to downtown Daejeon, but strangely, many people recognize him.”
Moon Dong-ju felt the composure of a one-year senior. Moon Dong-ju, who graduated from Gwangju Jinheung High School, said, “I found a house in Daejeon. Life in Daejeon is more fun now.” 카지노사이트
The two players said they knew each other well since high school. Moon Dong-ju was selected by Hanwha in the first nomination for the 2022 KBO Rookie Draft, and Kim Seo-hyun was selected by Hanwha as the first overall in the rookie draft the following year, which was conducted as a full draft.
Kim Seo-hyun said, “The day after the nomination, Dong-joo hyung directly commented on my social media. He remembers with an applause emoji. Only then did I think, ‘Ah, I finally got to play with Dong-joo.’”
Hanwha’s expectations for the two can be seen in the down payment of 500 million won. Foreseeing the potential he showed during his school days as well as the possibility of future growth, Hanwha spared no investment. Moon Dong-joo said that he had prepared a rental house in Daejeon with his professional contract money. Kim Seo-hyun said he gave it to his parents.
Moon Dong-joo said, “I know very well that the expectations around me are high. Still, it is my role and mission to do well in this position. In fact, there was a sense of pressure last year, but baseball is getting more and more fun.”
The picture that the ‘Young Gun Duo’ dreams of is one. Moon Dong-joo, who came out as the starting pitcher, clearly dominates the game, and Kim Seo-hyun, who is put in as the finisher, finishes the game to win.
Moon Dong-ju appeared in 13 games last year, his debut season, and recorded 1 win, 3 losses, and an earned run average of 5.65. Moon Dong-joo said, “I and (Kim) Seohyun all have one thing in common: the ball is fast, but the types are different. So I’m rather looking forward to a synergistic effect,” he said. “I believe that Seohyun will do well in the pro. In the end, I have to do well so that the picture we want can come out.”
Kim Seo-hyun said, “In a recent interview, he said that he wanted to play as a bullpen pitcher, and I heard that coach Carlos Subero also heard the story. Fortunately, the coach seems willing to use me as a relief pitcher. If Dong-joo is having a hard time, I want to get on the mound quickly and keep the victory.”