At the halfway point of 72 games, the Hanwha Eagles, who are maintaining their first place in professional baseball, are becoming stronger with better management. Pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin (38) is expected to return within this month. With Ryu Hyun-jin properly recharged, Hanwha is anticipated to receive a significant boost heading into the final stretch of the first half.

Kim Kyung-moon, the head coach of Hanwha, met with reporters on the 21st before the Daejeon Kiwoom game was canceled due to rain, stating about Ryu Hyun-jin, "I think he will pitch at the end of this month." Next week, Hanwha has games scheduled against Daegu Samsung and Incheon SSG.

Ryu Hyun-jin was removed from the game on the 5th during the 4th inning against Daejeon KT after feeling discomfort in his left adductor. After throwing his first pitch to Ahn Hyun-min with two outs and the bases loaded in the 4th inning, he gestured to the dugout, and while the trainer checked his condition on the mound, Kim Kyung-moon quickly signaled for a substitution.

The day after, Ryu Hyun-jin was removed from the first team roster and rested for management purposes. Although the injury wasn’t severe, the adductor area was a previous injury zone for Ryu Hyun-jin during his time in Major League Baseball, making it not something to be taken lightly. To prevent further aggravation, he was removed from the roster for management, planning to skip two turns in the rotation.

Despite Ryu Hyun-jin's absence, the Hanwha pitching staff performed unexpectedly well. Second-year left-handed pitcher Cho Dong-uk, who stepped in for Ryu Hyun-jin, achieved a victory on the 11th against Daejeon Doosan, pitching 5 innings with 4 hits allowed (1 home run), 2 walks, 2 strikeouts, and 1 earned run. After Cho Dong-uk returned to the bullpen, Moon Dong-ju came back to the starting lineup after his rest, while Hwang Jun-seo, who filled in for him, remained in the starting rotation, contributing to the team. Since being called up to the first team in mid-last month, Hwang Jun-seo has made 6 appearances (5 starts, 24⅓ innings) with a record of 1 win, 3 losses, an earned run average of 3.70, and 20 strikeouts.

During the 11 games in which Ryu Hyun-jin was not in the roster, Hanwha achieved a record of 6 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw (winning percentage .600). Rain cancellations occurred three times, including on the 13th against Daejeon LG and on the 20th and 21st against Daejeon Kiwoom, giving players time to build up their strength. The fact that Hanwha managed to maintain the first place while not overexerting themselves during the halfway point of the season is significant.

Coach Kim Kyung-moon also noted, "(After Ryu Hyun-jin's absence) the team did not suffer from a losing streak or drop in performance. The players managed to hold strong at crucial points, finishing the first half of the 72 games better than expected. The players deserve a lot of praise. The expectations for Hanwha have risen too high, so there can be disappointment with even a small loss, but our players have done exceptionally well so far."

The coaching staff is also effectively managing the players' conditions. Although Sim Woo-jun and Estevan Florial have suffered injuries for over a month, none were serious injuries. With a league-high 24 one-run games, Hanwha has been engaged in close matches throughout the season, and their pitcher management is on track. They are ranked 3rd for consecutive games (64 times), tied for 7th for three consecutive games (3 times), and ranked 9th for multi-inning appearances (44 times), indicating that the bullpen is not yet overloaded.

Coach Kim also expressed gratitude that the pitchers have sustained through the season without significant injuries, saying, "I think the rain is okay right now. The players will be able to take a little more rest and recharge."

As the full rainy season begins, managing the players' conditions will be critical for the remaining 16 games of the first half. Coach Kim emphasized, "The important thing now is the fluctuating weather. While resting is good, the players must manage their conditions well until the All-Star break," adding, "Baseball is about smiling at the end of the season. In yesterday's meeting, I mentioned that we should achieve results and smile at the end. Right now, there isn’t much difference from the other teams, and nothing is set in stone. Finishing the remaining 16 games well before the All-Star break is crucial."

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