The Hanwha Eagles, securing first place in the first half for the first time in 33 years and reaching 50 wins, faced an unexpected significant dilemma. Luis Liberato (30), who joined as a foreign player to substitute for Estevan Florial (28) due to injury, has been performing beyond expectations, forcing the team to choose between the two. No matter who is chosen, it is a matter that is bound to spark controversy, so it seems necessary to deliberate until the very end.

The incident began when Florial was hit on his right pinky finger by a pitch from opposing pitcher Jeong Hae-young during the 10th inning against Kia in Gwangju on the 10th of last month. Diagnosed with a hairline fracture that produced bone fragments, Florial was placed on the foreign player rehabilitation list as of the 13th of last month. He took a leave for injury treatment and recovery, traveling to the U.S. on the 15th of last month to spend three weeks with his wife, who was about to give birth to their second child, returning as scheduled on the 8th.

Although less than a month has passed, the situation has changed dramatically. On the 17th of last month, Liberato signed a contract with Hanwha for a total of $50,000 over six weeks, and he has been swinging the bat with extraordinary power, aiming for a permanent position. Initially, due to his 'temporary' status, expectations were low. Compared to favorable pitchers, it seemed even more challenging for a batter to show competitiveness in a short period.

However, Liberato started impressively with three hits, including a double, in his debut game on the 22nd of last month against Kiwoom. He followed this with three consecutive games of multi-hits, achieving two hits in games against Samsung on the 26th and SSG on the 28th. In the Samsung game on the 26th, he recorded a clutch hit to tie the game in the 6th inning, and on the 28th against SSG, he hit a decisive three-run homer in the 6th.

On the 3rd against NC in Daejeon, he produced an impressive game with four hits, including two doubles, out of five at-bats, plus one walk, reaching base five times. While four hits were remarkable, his ability to select a walk after battling through an unfavorable two-strike count in the final at-bat of the 10th inning drew significant attention. Although there were criticisms about his lower power compared to Florial, he exploded for a three-run homer in the 7th against Kiwoom on the 6th.

In the game against Kia in Daejeon on the 8th, the day Florial returned, Liberato contributed with three hits out of five at-bats and one run batted in. With 14 games and 59 at-bats, while it’s a small sample size, a batting average of .418 (23 hits from 55 at-bats), two home runs, 11 runs batted in, four walks, and 12 strikeouts, with an on-base percentage of .458, slugging percentage of .618, and OPS of 1.076, are not to be taken lightly. Particularly, his batting average with runners in scoring position stands at .643 (nine hits from 14 at-bats), demonstrating outstanding clutch performance.

Liberato clearly has the edge over Florial in contact and overall hitting production. Unlike Florial, a pull hitter, Liberato, a spray hitter, can evenly distribute his hits regardless of the area. He is capable of adjusting to various pitches or specific locations depending on the situation. Given Hanwha's inconsistent batting lineup, they need a player like Liberato who maintains high lows and stability.

However, Florial was also in good form right before his injury. After entering the first batting order on May 21 against NC in Ulsan, he recorded a batting average of .314 (22 hits from 70 at-bats), four home runs, and seven runs batted in over 18 games, boasting an OPS of .951. As a center fielder, Florial's overall defensive range and base-running ability are evaluated to be superior to Liberato's. In the context of Hanwha's baseball philosophy this year, which focuses on scoring through aggressive base running and stable defense, Florial's defensive and base-running skills cannot be overlooked.

Regardless of the choice made, there will inevitably be some regret about parting with the player. Hanwha manager Kim Kyung-moon expressed his concerns regarding both players, stating, 'I have been thinking a lot. After the three games against Kia (from the 8th to the 10th), we will probably have to meet with the coaching staff and make a decision.'

Liberato's contract expires on the 25th during the game against SSG in Daejeon, meaning there are still 10 games left. While a final decision will be made after watching until the end, Hanwha has decided to notify Liberato of its intention to extend his contract. The deadline for notifying contracts is the 18th, and it is expected that the intentions will be communicated to Liberato and his agent within this week.

Notifying the intention to extend the contract does not mean a formal agreement will be made. It is about exercising the reserve clause. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) has strengthened the priority for negotiations with the original team regarding injured substitute foreign players. According to the new baseball regulation Article 10, 'Injured substitute foreign players,' it is stated that 'the club has the right to notify the substitute foreign player of its intention to extend the contract and must inform the player and his agent in writing of their re-contracting intentions at least seven days before the end or termination of the contract. If no agreement is reached on the contract by the initial contract's end date after notifying the intention to extend, the player may not join any other Korean club that year.'

In short, it prevents a player from transferring to another team for this season. While the reserve clause may seem like an evil law, it serves as a safety measure for existing teams' investment costs, as they first select the player and help them adapt to the league, eliminating uncertainties. Without this reserve clause, the market value of foreign players could skyrocket, and players or clubs could exploit the situation. For Hanwha, which is competing for rankings, if Liberato performs well on another team, it could come back to bite them. However, it is unlikely that Hanwha will make any unreasonable offer to Liberato. If they were to do so, they might encounter unfavorable reactions within the industry.

If Hanwha officially signs Liberato and makes a complete replacement, Florial will hit the market. In this case, the number of foreign player replacements will be reduced by one, and Florial will go through the waiver process. If a desired team emerges within a week, he will transfer; otherwise, he cannot play in the league for the remainder of the season. Hanwha will continue to pay the remaining salary.

Meanwhile, Florial, who arrived on the 8th, will undergo an examination of the injured area between the 9th and 10th and will attend the All-Star Game at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon on the 11th and 12th. Although he was selected as one of the top 12 outfielders, finishing second in the fan vote for the 'Sharing All-Stars,' he will be replaced by Lee Joo-hyung due to his injury and will not be able to play. However, he decided to join the festival with the fans who voted for him. After that, he will move to Seosan starting the 13th for training aimed at his return to action, but if he loses his spot to Liberato, the All-Star Game may be his last stage.

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