Until the middle of last month, Hanwha had two empty seats in its starting lineup. Foreign pitchers Felix Peña, Ricardo Sanchez and next-generation ace Moon Dong-ju were selected as the first to third starters and tried to fill the gap through infinite competition.
On the 22nd of last month, Hanwha relieved one concern as Ryu Hyun-jin received a great deal of good news to join the team. Ryu Hyun-jin, who won 78 games (48 losses) in the U.S. Major League, has built a strong starting lineup. Ryu will play as the starting pitcher in the opening game of the regular season against the LG Twins on the 23rd.
Now, if we only find the fifth starter, which is the last puzzle, we will complete the rotation of the fifth starter to be operated this season.
The competition has heated up as the number of vacancies in the starting lineup has been reduced to one. Kim Min-woo, a pitcher with 14 wins in 2021, Lee Tae-yang, a highly experienced left-hander prospect, Kim Ki-joong, and Hwang Joon-seo, the No. 1 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 Rookie Draft, will compete in good faith for the fifth starter.
Currently, Kim Min-woo is considered the top five starting pitchers. Kim Min-woo, who played 139 games as a starting pitcher, has the most experience and even scored a pass at the spring camp.
Hanwha manager Choi Won-ho said, "If Kim Min-woo does not perform well as a starting pitcher, it is not easy to use it as a bullpen compared to other players. Lee Tae-yang, Kim Ki-joong, and Hwang Joon-seo can also be used as bullpen pitchers," adding, "Fortunately, Kim Min-woo showed quite good pitching in this camp."
There is also a possibility that Lee Tae-yang, Kim Ki-joong and Hwang Jun-seo will secure the starting spot. They will be tested in exhibition games. Exhibition games are a venue for players to demonstrate their competitiveness.
Coach Choi said, "I don't know how the situation will change in the exhibition game," adding, "I'm going to make a final decision after watching the candidates' performance in the exhibition game."
As for Hwang Joon-seo, who will make his KBO league debut this year, he said, "I don't see him as a bullpen pitcher right away. Kim Min-woo's condition is good in exhibition games, and if he starts the starting rotation, I think of Hwang as a bullpen."
BY: 사설토토