The Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Professional Baseball League are on a rampage, achieving two eight-game winning streaks in a single season for the first time in the club's 40-year history. With a strong pitching staff, they have accumulated 19 wins in their last 22 games and have risen to first place. Among the five starting pitchers and elite closer Kim Seo-hyun, there is another indispensable pitcher, the 'man of the eighth inning,' Han Seung-hyuk (32).
On the 6th, Han Seung-hyuk was called upon in a rare appearance in the ninth inning instead of the eighth during the game against Samsung in Daejeon. With closer Kim Seo-hyun taking a break after two consecutive games, Han Seung-hyuk took the mound in the ninth inning, leading 3-1.
Despite the pressure, Han Seung-hyuk started strong against the first batter Lee Jae-hyun, throwing consecutive strikes on the first and second pitches. Both his fastball and slider went through the strike zone. After gaining an advantageous count, Han Seung-hyuk got a groundout to second base on the fifth pitch. He then established a first-pitch strike against the next batter Kim Sung-yoon before striking him out with a forkball on the fourth pitch for the second out.
He allowed a bloop single to left-center against Kim Tae-geun but induced a groundout to shortstop from Kim Jae-seong in three pitches to end the game. It was his first save of the season, and it marked his third career save, eight years after he last saved one while with KIA on April 16, 2017, against Nexen in Gwangju. After the game, Han Seung-hyuk said, "I thought to myself, 'Finally, a save opportunity has come,' and I was prepared. I was more nervous than usual, but I managed to pitch more comfortably than I anticipated while controlling my mind."
Hanwha fans watching Han Seung-hyuk's pitching are quite at ease these days. This season, he has appeared in 21 games (18⅔ innings), recording 2 losses, 1 save, and 8 holds with an earned run average of 1.93, and he has struck out 15 batters. Since his last game on the 8th of last month against Doosan at Jamsil, he has gone 15 consecutive games without allowing a run. Based on the no earned run criteria, he has gone 16 consecutive games without giving up an earned run since the 6th of last month against Samsung in Daegu. During this period, he has a 0.00 earned run average over 14⅓ innings.
He easily shuts down tight games with a score difference of 1-2 points. Although he still throws a fastball at a speed of around 150 km/h, his command of various off-speed pitches, including forkballs, sliders, and curves, has noticeably improved. Last year, he set a personal record with 19 holds and established himself as a key member of the bullpen, but he experienced inconsistency with an earned run average of 5.03; however, this year, except for the brief shaky period at the beginning of the season, he has been stable for a month.
Hanwha manager Kim Gyeong-moon said about Han Seung-hyuk's transformation, "He originally had good pitching since he was with KIA. He was expected to be a starting pitcher at KIA. His success didn't come suddenly after joining our team; it has accumulated through various experiences from then until now." This is his third season since being traded from KIA to Hanwha, and he believes his 15 years of professional experience are reflected in his current performance.
Han Seung-hyuk, who was selected as the 8th overall pick in the first round of the 2011 draft by KIA, was a promising fireballer who could throw up to 158 km/h. Though he had many opportunities as a starting pitcher, appearing in 46 games, he could not meet the high expectations due to control issues. After joining Hanwha, he experienced similar hardships during his first year, alternating between starting and relieving roles, but he has now found his place in the bullpen and is set for his best season.
Han Seung-hyuk also noted, "I have experienced various trial and error until now, and I have gained my own experiences and know-how. Whether it goes well or not, I always try to pitch with the same mindset every day." He added, "When things weren't going well, I often found myself in situations where I had to face tough counts and was hit. This year, I aim to pitch more aggressively."
Since the introduction of the Automated Ball-Strike system last year, borderline pitches that would have been called balls in the past have turned into strikes, making it easier to win count battles. However, he did not change his form or add any new pitches. Although his off-speed pitch percentage has increased, it did not happen suddenly. He explained, "Personally, I think my off-speed pitches have improved greatly over the past few years. I've gained confidence while refining my changeups over the years. Batters only see my fastball, so the increase in slider percentage is observed. I make an effort to ensure my fastball does not lose power. I think for my off-speed pitches to work, I need to make sure batters keep their timing on the fastball, so I always prioritize my fastball quality."
The trust he receives from the bench is also a significant strength. Since last year, Han Seung-hyuk has frequently been assigned to the eighth inning by manager Kim Gyeong-moon, who praised him, saying, "He is a friend who does his job quietly without words. I thought I could give him more trust. His start was not good at the beginning of the season compared to his efforts, so I clearly defined his role by saying, 'You are our guy in the eighth inning.' He wore that role well."
Regarding his固定 role as the eighth-inning setup man, Han Seung-hyuk stated, "I try to throw with more responsibility than comfort. Since the team is doing well, I always feel that I must perform well between starting and closing roles. With more frequent pitching opportunities due to many victories, I think about how many players want to pitch like this but cannot. I will always think gratefully and prepare every day."
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