“We will keep him in the first team.”

Kim Kyung-moon, the manager of Hanwha Eagles, expressed deep trust in left-handed young gun Hwang Jun-seo (20). He showed willingness to continue utilizing him in the first team not only as a starter but also in long relief.

Hwang Jun-seo started in the game against the KIA Tigers in the 2025 professional baseball league at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on the 7th, pitching 5 innings with 1 hit, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts, and 1 earned run (unearned).

He had a tight pitching duel with Adam Oller and laid the groundwork for a 3-2 victory in the 11th inning. He fulfilled his role as a substitute starter effectively. Although he limited himself to 86 pitches, he boldly utilized Ju Hyun-sang from the 6th inning. There was a reason.

The manager noted during a media briefing before the weekend series on the 8th, “Although it didn’t exceed 90 pitches, he exerted too much effort by allowing two walks in the 5th inning. Jun-seo pitched well and prevented runs. The opposing team had a foreign pitcher who played a significant role.”

Additionally, the manager announced plans to continue using him as a substitute starter for the time being. He said, “He is currently doing his part very well. If he continues to perform without collapsing under pressure, it creates opportunities for the team. He will start again in the next and following games. Dong-joo and Hyun-jin need more time before their return.”

He also showed determination to keep Moon Dong-ju and Ryu Hyun-jin in the first team as long men, even when they return.

“Even if all the starters come back, if he continues pitching like this, he should stay in the first team. How great would it be to use him when the starters collapse quickly? He honed his skills down in the second team and trained a lot. It’s a desirable situation. I thank the second team staff,” he said.

Hwang Jun-seo was a promising player selected in the first round of the 2024 draft. He performed well early in the last season but somewhat faltered later. Still, he pitched in 38 games, totaling 72 innings with a record of 2 wins, 8 losses, 1 hold, and an earned run average of 5.38.

He started the season in the second team but, with determination, returned to become a key pitcher in the first team. He has become a significant asset as they enter summer competitions. This demonstrates the depth of the Hanwha pitching staff.

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