Prospective catchers of the Hanwha Eagles in the Korea Professional Baseball have excelled in the Futures League with a batting average of over .300.
Hanwha achieved a commanding 14-0 victory against the Doosan Bears in the 2025 Futures League held at the Doosan Bears Park in Icheon on the 28th.
In the starting lineup, Jang Gyu-hyeon batted third as catcher, and Heo In-seo played as the designated hitter in the fourth spot. Jang Gyu-hyeon recorded 3 hits in 5 at-bats with 1 walk, 1 RBI, and 2 runs, while Heo In-seo had 1 hit in 2 at-bats with 1 walk and 1 run.
Jang Gyu-hyeon (23) was drafted by Hanwha in the 4th round, 32nd overall, during the 2021 rookie draft. Heo In-seo (22) was selected by Hanwha in the 2nd round, 11th overall, in the 2022 rookie draft. Both players completed their military service early with Sangmu.
Jang Gyu-hyeon has recorded a batting average of .377 over 53 games in the Futures League (46 hits in 122 at-bats) with 4 home runs and 23 RBIs. Heo In-seo is batting .333 over 35 games (30 hits in 99 at-bats) with 8 home runs and 23 RBIs. Heo In-seo set a remarkable record by hitting four consecutive home runs in the Futures League against Doosan on the 10th and 11th.
However, both players have had limited opportunities in the first team. Jang Gyu-hyeon has recorded 1 hit in 1 at-bat across 1 game in the first team. Heo In-seo has 1 hit in 1 at-bat across 2 games in the first team (a double). Hanwha is operating its catcher depth with Choi Jae-hun and Lee Jae-won.
Hanwha's lead-off hitter Lee Won-seok hit a home run over the left field fence on the first pitch in the first inning. After one out, Jang Gyu-hyeon reached base with a double to the right-center, and Heo In-seo created a scoring chance at first and third base with a hit to left-center. Due to a pitcher balk, Jang Gyu-hyeon scored and Heo In-seo advanced to second.
In the third inning, after one out, Jang Gyu-hyeon reached base with a double along the right field line, and Heo In-seo drew a walk to create a first and second base situation. Kim In-hwan's hit to center field led to a bases-loaded situation with one out. When Park Jung-hyun hit a double to left-center, both Jang Gyu-hyeon and Heo In-seo scored, extending the lead to 4-0.
Hanwha added another run in the fourth inning. Lee Seung-hyun drew a walk, and after Lee Won-seok's hit, he successfully stole second base, creating a no-out situation on second and third bases. During Lee Min-jae's ground ball to third base, the runner on third base was caught in a squeeze play and tagged out, leaving one out on second and third.
Jang Gyu-hyeon hit a timely single to right, increasing the score to 5-0. Heo In-seo's at-bat saw a wild pitch allow the runner on third to score, making it 6-0. Heo In-seo then grounded out to the center fielder.
In the fifth inning, Lee Seung-hyun hit a two-run home run (distance of 105 meters) over the right field fence with one out and a runner on first, marking his first home run and bringing the score to 8-0. After Lee Won-seok and Lee Min-jae, Jang Gyu-hyeon created a bases-loaded situation with three consecutive walks with one out. In Heo In-seo's at-bat, Park Sang-eon substituted but failed to capitalize on the opportunity with a ground ball double play to the third base.
Jang Gyu-hyeon flew out to center field after one out in the seventh inning. With Hanwha leading 9-0, in the eighth inning, Han Kyung-bin's two-run triple and Lee Won-seok's infield ground ball extended the lead to 12-0. In the top of the ninth, with two outs and runners on first and second, Jeong Min-kyu's two-run double made it 14-0.
Meanwhile, Hanwha exploded with 17 hits and 10 walks, achieving a decisive victory. Rookie Lee Seung-hyun went 3 for 3 with 1 home run, 3 RBIs, and 1 run; Lee Won-seok recorded 2 hits in 5 at-bats, hitting 1 home run with 2 RBIs and 2 runs; Park Jung-hyun had 2 hits in 4 at-bats with 2 RBIs; and Jeong Min-kyu recorded 2 hits in 6 at-bats with 2 RBIs.
Starting pitcher Park Jun-young pitched 3 innings with no hits allowed, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts. Kim Seung-il threw 2 innings giving up 2 hits and 4 strikeouts; Lee Chung-ho pitched 1 inning giving up 2 hits, Baek Dong-hyun pitched 1 and two-thirds innings giving up 1 hit, and Jang Ji-soo pitched 1 and one-third innings with 2 hits and 1 walk to combine for a shutout victory.
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