Although only one new player, Ryu Hyun-jin (37), has arrived, the goals of the entire Hanwha Eagles team are changing. Hanwha, which had originally aimed to return to the stage in the fall for the first time in six years since 2018, now looks beyond 5th place after completing the camp with Ryu Hyun-jin.
The Hanwha Eagles, led by coach Choi Won-ho, returned to Korea through Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 on the afternoon of the 4th after completing spring camps in Melbourne, Australia and Okinawa, Japan.
Hanwha concluded its spring camp schedule with a practice game (0-2 loss) against KT Wiz held at Gotinda Stadium in Okinawa, Japan on the 3rd. After winning two practice games against the Australian national team held in Melbourne, Australia, the site of the first spring camp, Hanwha recorded 2 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses in the practice match in Okinawa. The results from the 1st and 2nd practice games were 4 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses.
After completing the first camp in Melbourne, Australia, with a focus on physical strength and technical training, Hanwha moved to Okinawa and entered practical combat mode. Pitchers increased their pitch count, and fielders improved their batting skills and checked for shortcomings in practice to prepare for the upcoming season.
Coach Choi, whom we met at the arrival hall of Incheon Airport, said, “The first camp focused on building a body capable of playing, and the second camp was aimed at adapting to the game. However, both the first and second camps had good results as planned. “I feel proud as a director,” he said.
The topic of Hanwha\'s spring camp was definitely the returning Ace No. 99. Ryu Hyun-jin, who made a surprise return to Korea 12 years after finishing his major league career, was recruited for 8 years and 17 billion won, the largest contract in KBO League history.
Ryu Hyun-jin achieved his spring camp goal through bullpen pitching in Okinawa and one round of live pitching. Ryu Hyun-jin has been selected as the starting pitcher for the opening game against the LG Twins to be held at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on the 23rd.
Coach Choi said, “Ryu Hyun-jin used to pitch only indoors, but came to Okinawa and pitched outdoors twice. Considering that he only pitched indoors, he got in good shape. “His live pitching was also better than expected with his variety of breaking balls and control,” he said.
I was also able to hear what it was like to actually meet and coach Ryu Hyun-jin. Coach Choi said, “He has a big physique. “She has a huge glow,” he said with a chuckle, adding, “She has grown bigger than before she went to America. “She has turned into a very attractive player.”
Hanwha recruited Ahn Chi-hong, a proven free agent second baseman in the Stove League, and built a dynamite central batting line consisting of Ahn Chi-hong, Noh Si-hwan, and Chae Eun-seong. In addition, they have veterans Kim Kang-min and Lee Jae-won and a new structure that adds experience, which is one of the essential conditions for a strong team. Considerable expectations were placed on the synergy effect with energetic young players such as Eun-won Jeong, Hyun-bin Moon, Do-yoon Lee, and Jin-young Lee.
Nevertheless, Hanwha\'s goal was not to win the championship, but to advance to the fall baseball season. This is because only three starting players have been confirmed, including foreigners Felix Peña, Ricardo Sánchez, and Moon Dong-ju. In addition, Peña and Sanchez cannot be considered Eric Peddie-level players who dominated the league last year, and Moon Dong-joo was also just coming out of the loop with eight wins last year. Following them, Kim Min-woo, Kim Ki-joong, Lee Tae-yang, and Hwang Jun-seo competed for the 4th and 5th starting positions, but to put it bluntly, they were not strong enough to aim for the presidency.
Hanwha\'s starting lineup immediately leapt to championship status with the addition of Ryu Hyun-jin, who has 78 wins in his major league career. This is because the depth of the starting lineup has been significantly enriched with the creation of a solid four starters consisting of ace Ryu Hyun-jin, Pena, Sanchez, and Moon Dong-ju. There are as many as four pitchers aiming for the fifth starting position, including Kim Min-woo, Kim Ki-joong, Lee Tae-yang, and Hwang Jun-seo.
Coach Choi confessed, “With Ahn Chi-hong joining this season, the entire team started camp with the goal of the postseason, but it was true that I was worried,” and added, “With Ryu Hyun-jin joining Okinawa, the team, including me, has become a little more confident in our goal.” “I think this will be an opportunity to move towards,” he explained the Ryu Hyun-jin effect.
Ryu Hyun-jin is scheduled to take the mound in turn against KIA in Daejeon on the 12th and against Lotte in Sajik on the 17th after the exhibition game opens in Daejeon on the 7th through his own Blue and White match. After a 5-day break, a plan was made to play in the long-awaited opening match against LG on the 23rd. Coach Choi predicted, “If he sticks to the schedule going forward, I don’t think there will be any major problems with his starting pitching in the opening game.”
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