We look forward to a strong image from us.”
Hanwha coach Carlos Subero said this to right-handed pitcher Han Seung-hyeok (31), who came to Hanwha from KIA in November last year. Han Seung-hyuk is imprinted with a good image to Subero. Last year, he left a strong impression by fighting against Hanwha with an average ERA of 2.40 and 1 win in 4 games.
In particular, in the Daejeon game on May 6, he won the starting match with a quality start with 5 hits, 2 walks, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts and 2 runs 바카라 (1 earned) in 6 innings. He threw consistently well not only on this day but also in the Daejeon game. At Daejeon Hanwha Life Insurance Eagles Park, he recorded a total of 15 games (26⅔ innings), 2 wins, 1 loss, 1 hold, an average ERA of 3.38, and 26 strikeouts. It was a record against Hanwha, who had a weak batting line, but it was much better than the career average ERA (4.10) against Hanwha in Gwangju. Compared to the career average ERA (5.84) against all teams including Hanwha, Han Seung-hyuk was clearly better in Daejeon.
Han Seung-hyuk said, “Since Daejeon is now my home stadium, I think I can throw more comfortably. Personally, I like Daejeon Stadium. (Back net behind catcher) There is not a lot of space behind, so there is a part where the pitcher can focus better. Due to the structure of the stadium, the mound conditions are good for concentrating,” he explained why Eagles Park is good.
Eagles Park, which had a back seat for the catcher through remodeling in 2014, has a shorter back net space. Previously, it was the widest at 23m, but it has been reduced to 16m. The foul fly space is narrow, but the distance to the back net is short, so the pitcher’s burden is reduced. For Han Seung-hyeok, who tends to have a lot of wild fighting, the compatibility with Eagles Park is worth looking forward to.
Han Seung-hyuk said, “Personally, I think the trade went well for me. After the trade, I told KIA a lot of regrets (not being able to reciprocate expectations), but now I don’t want to. I will focus on Hanwha as I am a new team. I will adapt well with the new colleagues I met at the US spring camp and prepare for good grades.”
Hanwha expects Han Seung-hyeok as a swing man who crosses both selection and salvation. Han Seung-hyuk said, “In the case of last year, it was the first (full-time) season after being discharged, and it was not good to prepare his body quickly. Although he prefers a starter who can warm up steadily, he improved his physical condition as he played for a year last year,” he said. “I will match the position and direction the team wants. He should be prepared to follow what the team wants rather than personal greed.”
Hanwha general manager Sohn Hyuk, who brought Han Seung-hyuk into the trade, is focusing on the fast ball rather than his uneasiness. He focuses on maximizing his strengths rather than being buried in making up for his weaknesses. Han Seung-hyuk also said that the most important thing in preparing for the new season was “a fastball. It is important to raise the fastball pitch without injury,” he said. “When I came to Hanwha, there were many fastball pitchers. I didn’t know there were so many, but I was surprised. There are many young players with infinite potential. If we compete well with each other, I think there will be a synergistic effect.”
On the 19th, in Daejeon, on the day of supplying club supplies, Han Seung-hyuk, wearing a Hanwha uniform and taking a profile photo, wore number 26 as his uniform number. The number I wrote at KIA last year. Catcher Heo Gwan-hoe moved to number 48 and chose number 26. Han Seung-hyuk said, “It doesn’t mean much. Aside from grades, he played baseball last year without getting sick for the first time in a long time. He came to Hanwha for the first time, and he shouldn’t be sick. He wanted to do it without injury, so he put on number 26 again,” and promised to complete the season in good health.