Kim Seo-hyun, a standout pitcher for the Hanwha Eagles, appears to be experiencing a troubling decline. This development poses significant challenges for the Eagles, who are embroiled in a competitive race for the top spot in the league.
Designated as the overall No. 1 pick by Hanwha in 2023, Kim is a right-handed pitcher renowned for his blistering fastball. Last season, he participated in 57 games, accruing a total of 60.2 innings with a 5.04 ERA, which included one win, two losses, and 10 holds.
In his current 2024 season, drawing on 37 games and 38.1 innings, he has solidified his role as a vital bullpen asset, demonstrating an ERA of 3.76 alongside one win, two losses, and 10 holds.
This year has seen remarkable growth for Kim. With the previous closer considerably faltering, Hanwha’s manager, Kim Kyung-moon, opted to place him in the closing role. Rising to the occasion, Kim participated in 42 games during the first half of the season, amassing a record of 1 win, 1 loss, 22 saves, and an impressively low 1.55 ERA.
Such excellence earned him 1,786,837 votes in the All-Star Game, a record-breaking achievement that eclipsed Yang Hyun-jong’s 1,413,722 votes from 2022, solidifying his spot among the top 12 players in the Nanum All-Star category.
However, recent performances have been less than stellar. During a match against KT Wiz on the 5th, Kim entered the game at the top of the eighth inning, facing a precarious situation with runners on first and third base as Hanwha led 2-1. Unfortunately, he struggled, issuing a four-pitch walk to Junghoon Lee, which loaded the bases. Following that, he induced a flyout but subsequently surrendered a hit to Ahn Hyun-min that allowed runners to advance.
The inning culminated in a three-run hit by Kang Baek-ho, which cleared the bases and altered the game’s trajectory. Ultimately, Kim’s performance concluded with a disappointing stat line of one hit, two earned runs, and a mere 0.1 innings of work.
The subsequent day, his struggles continued. Entering the game once again in a crucial eighth inning scenario, Kim initially struck out Jang Jin-hyuk but faltered in the ninth, issuing a walk to Kwon Dong-jin. Despite striking out Andrew Stevenson, he then walked Huh Kyung-min before conceding an RBI hit to Ahn Hyun-min.
Stability has eluded Kim. After allowing timely hits and running into trouble with wild pitches, he was eventually replaced after conceding another two runs. While Hanwha secured a narrow 5-4 victory, Kim’s line reflected a challenging outing: two hits, two strikeouts, and three earned runs in just 0.2 innings.
As of the morning of the 7th, Hanwha Eagles find themselves in a tightly contested race for the lead, standing alone with 60 wins, three draws, and 39 losses, closely followed by the LG Twins at 62 wins, two draws, and 41 losses. In terms of winning percentage, Hanwha slightly edges LG, boasting a rate of 0.606 compared to their 0.602.
One of Hanwha’s pivotal advantages has been its formidable bullpen. Remarkably, the team had not lost a single game with a commanding lead in the seventh inning prior to facing KT on the 5th, posting an impressive record of 46 wins and one draw.
To inch closer to this season’s objective of premier positioning by overcoming LG, the team’s pitchers—most critically, closer Kim Seo-hyun—must navigate a path back to form. The question remains: will Kim Seo-hyun manage to rediscover his prowess and fortify Hanwha’s position at the top?
Source link: Mk.co.kr.
