Large rookie Kim Seo-hyun (19-Hanwha Eagles), who attracted attention with his 160km fastball, is going back to the second team.
The Hanwha Eagles have removed right-hander Kim Seo-hyun from the first team roster ahead of their game against the Doosan Bears in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League at Jamsil Stadium on 8 August.
The previous day (7 July), Kim appeared as a reliever in the bottom of the seventh inning against Doosan in Jamsil, but after getting the leadoff hitter, Jose Rojas, to fly out to left field, he gave up a hard-hit ball to Park Kye-beom and a straight ball to Lee Yoo-chan. Hanwha eventually sent left-hander Kim Bum-soo to the mound, and Yang Ji Hyun’s double to left-centre scored both of the runners Kim left on base, leaving Kim with two runs on two hits in ⅓ of an inning.
Selected by Hanwha with the first overall pick in the 2023 KBO Draft, Kim made a splash by signing a 500 million won contract. Although he did not make the opening roster, he made his debut on 19 April when he was named to the first team roster. He earned his first career save against Incheon SSG on 12 April, but suffered a serious slump in June with a 16.88 ERA in four games. In 18 games this season, he has one save and a 5.60 ERA.메이저사이트
Hanwha manager Choi Won-ho explained his decision to send Kim down to the second team ahead of the game against Doosan in Jamsil on the 8th, saying, “Yesterday (7th), when I was throwing and coming down from the mound, I was looking at my surroundings quite a lot. It’s not his usual style, but I sensed that he was having a hard time mentally and decided that he needed to make adjustments.”
He also hinted that Kim’s position might change in the future. “In the second team, he will also pitch as a starter,” said Choi Won-ho. It doesn’t mean that he will change his position to a starter right away. It is difficult to proceed systematically if he only goes out as a bullpen pitcher in the second team. He is a player that we need to manage specially, and then we need to train systematically.” Therefore, the first step will be for Kim Seo-hyun to find his ‘aptitude’ perfectly in the second team.
Choi Won-ho also left a message for Kim Seo-hyun, saying, “I am confident that you will become the best pitcher in Korea along with (Moon) Dong-joo in the future,” adding, “Going to the second team now and doing maintenance is part of the process of growing into a superstar.” Will Kim Seo-hyun be able to come back with a more mature pitch after this trip to the second team?
Meanwhile, on the same day, Hanwha designated left-hander Song Yoon-jun for assignment to the first team instead of sending Kim Seo-hyun to the second team. Song was the star of Hanwha’s Northern League title last year in the Futures League, appearing in 38 games and pitching 51 innings, going 15-2 with one save and a 3.18 ERA. He continued his strong play this year, going 1-6 with a 0.98 ERA in 15 games and 18⅓ innings pitched. This is his first call-up to the first team this season.