The Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Professional Baseball League will operate with a three-catcher system.
Hanwha added catcher Heo In-seo to the first team roster ahead of the match against KT in Daejeon on the 25th. Heo joined the first team squad since the midweek match against Lotte in Sajik, and his first roster registration of the season was completed on this day. Infielder Ha Joo-seok was removed from the roster.
Hanwha manager Kim Kyung-moon noted, "(Choi) Jae-hoon says he’s fine, but even if he can play, he’s not at 100% yet." Choi Jae-hoon was substituted on the 20th during the match against NC in Daejeon after feeling discomfort in his right adductor while pivoting during a base-running play in the fifth inning.
Fortunately, it was not a serious injury, and he started in the match against Lotte on the 23rd. However, under the judgment that he was not at 100%, a third catcher was added. Heo In-seo will join Choi Jae-hoon and Lee Jae-won in the three-catcher system for the time being.
Heo In-seo is the top catcher prospect on the Hanwha team. Selected 11th overall in the second round of the 2022 draft, Heo was the first catcher taken that year and has completed his military service. He has experience in eight first-team games in 2022, and in the Futures League, he boasted a high batting average approaching .400 (.393) in 2023. Last year, he showcased his power with 13 home runs, and this year, he recorded a batting average of .239 (11 hits in 46 at-bats), with two home runs and 10 RBIs in 15 games.
With Heo In-seo coming up, Ha Joo-seok has been sent down to the second team. Ha Joo-seok had a batting average of .278 (5 hits in 18 at-bats) with one RBI and an OPS of .705 in seven games since being registered on the first team roster on the 8th. He made a significant contribution to the team’s eight-game winning streak, but had to step back due to an abundance of infielders.
Meanwhile, Hanwha faced KT's right-handed starter So Hyung-jun and fielded Kim Tae-yeon (right fielder), Estevan Florial (center fielder), Moon Hyun-bin (designated hitter), No Si-hwan (third baseman), Chae Eun-sung (first baseman), Lee Jin-young (left fielder), Lee Do-yoon (second baseman), Lee Jae-won (catcher), and Shim Woo-jun (shortstop). The starting pitcher was Eom Sang-baek.
Kim Tae-yeon, who was substituted after getting hit on the right index finger while attempting a bunt in the fifth inning of the match against NC on the 20th and missed the matches on the 23rd and 24th against Lotte, returned to the starting lineup.
An Chi-hong, who felt pain in his right wrist after hitting a foul ball on the third pitch in the seventh inning against Lotte on the 24th and was substituted, has been excluded from the starting lineup again. Manager Kim Kyung-moon explained, "The wrist injured during the diving catch is a bit uncomfortable."
After losing to Lotte 5-3, ending an eight-game winning streak, it is important for Hanwha to avoid a losing streak in this match. Kim Kyung-moon said, "While winning streaks are good, they also come with pressure. We need to forget about yesterday's game and approach it with a fresh start, both the players and myself."
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