Hanwha Eagles player Ahn Chi-hong reported a hit in the Futures League exchange match after three games.
On the 25th, Ahn Chi-hong was selected as the designated hitter for the game against the SoftBank Hawks' third team at Seosan Stadium. After being silent with no hits in seven at-bats in the previous two games, Ahn recorded two hits and two RBIs in five at-bats.
In the bottom of the first inning, Ahn Chi-hong targeted the first pitch but was out on a pop-up to the shortstop. SoftBank scored four runs in the third inning with three doubles, one single, and two walks.
Hanwha's lead-off hitter Jo Han-min hit a solo home run over the left field fence in the bottom of the third inning to reduce the deficit. Choi Joon-seo reached base with a single to left.
Ahn Chi-hong stepped to the plate. Due to a wild pitch from the pitcher, the runner advanced to second. Ahn was out on a pop-up to center field, while the runner advanced to third. With one out and a runner on third, the next batter popped out to the infield, and the following batter struck out, missing the chance for additional runs.
Trailing 1-5 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Ahn Chi-hong reached base with a single to left with two outs and no runners on. He achieved his first hit in 10 at-bats.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, after two outs, Hanwha scored one run on Lee Seung-hyun's double after Park Sang-eon reached base with a double and Kim Geon walked, reducing the score to 2-5. Ahn Chi-hong was out on a pop-up to center field after one out in the seventh inning.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Hanwha's lead-off hitter Jang Gyu-hyun reached base with an infield single to the second baseman, and after one out, Lee Ji-sung reached base on a hit by pitch. Song Ho-jeong struck out, and with two outs and runners on first and second, Ahn Chi-hong returned to bat.
Ahn Chi-hong hit a double to right, driving in both runners from second base with a count of 2 balls and 2 strikes. The score tightened to 4-5. Ahn was substituted for a pinch runner, Han Kyung-bin, at second base, but Bae Seung-su struck out, ending the game.
Ahn Chi-hong experienced poor condition due to stomach cramps early in the season after the opening, and in early May, he also suffered from wrist pain, leading to a lack of hitting performance. In 16 games, he recorded a batting average of .098 (5 hits in 51 at-bats), 5 RBIs, and an OPS of .277, and he was removed from the first team on the 6th.
After being placed on the injured list, Ahn received treatment for wrist pain for about two weeks and recently began participating again in the Futures League. Ahn recorded 2 hits in 12 at-bats (batting average of .167), with 2 walks and 2 RBIs in three exchange games against SoftBank's third team from the 23rd to the 25th.
Since Ahn Chi-hong's absence, Hwang Young-mook and Lee Do-yoon have been playing as second basemen for Hanwha. Lee has a batting average of .220, while Hwang has a batting average of .236. If Ahn Chi-hong recovers his hitting performance and returns to the first team, it would benefit Hanwha's offensive power.
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