KIA match 'KKK' Kim Seo-hyun, is really going to explode this year?"I can feel the balance of pitching balance"
KIA match 'KKK' Kim Seo-hyun, is really going to explode this year?"I can feel the balance of pitching balance"
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Hanwha Eagles right-hander fireballer prospect Kim Seo-hyun is step by step preparing to break the promising player's shell in his third year as a professional. He showed off his sharp pitching in Japanese practice games, raising expectations for the 2025 season.
At a practice game against the KT Wiz held at Kochinda Stadium in Okinawa, Japan on Sunday, Kim had two hits and no run in one inning. It was impressive that he did not allow a run due to aggressive pitching at a time when losing points.스포츠토토
Kim Seo-hyun took the mound in the top of the sixth inning with Hanwha leading 4-1. He lightly handled the leadoff hitter Yoo Joon-kyu with a ground ball in front of the pitcher, and got the first out count. However, with one out, he gave up a hit to Jang Jin-hyuk to the right and a hit to Kang Hyun-woo to the middle, putting him on the verge of losing a point with one out and runners on the first and third bases.
Kim Seo-hyun continued his pitching without wavering at the critical moment. Veteran left-handed batter Kim Min-hyuk was treated with a fly ball to the second base, overcoming a critical moment. He then caught Hwang Jae-gyun with a fly ball to the center field, and ended the inning with two outs and runners on the first and third bases. His fastball, which allowed him to speed up to 151 kilometers, was powerful.
Kim Seo-hyun also pitched in a practice game against the KIA Tigers on the 25th. He took the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning and struck out Byun Woo-hyuk, Han Seung-taek, and Park Jung-woo to create a "KKK" inning. Until the next day's game against KT, he showed off his tireless energy despite consecutive pitching.
In practice games during the spring camp, bullpen pitchers rarely throw consecutive games in order to give multiple players a chance to play. However, the Hanwha Eagles made Kim Seo-hyun take the mound for two consecutive days as he has shown good performance lately.
Kim Seo-hyun was considered an "elementary and high school-class" pitcher when he threw fastballs in the mid-150km range during his high school years. Hanwha let Kim join the team without hesitation as the first overall pick in the first round of the 2023 Rookie Draft. The team gave a down payment of 500 million won (468,400 U.S. dollars), keeping expectations high.
Kim Seo-hyun experienced significant growth in the 2023 season, when he first joined the pro league. He had a harsh reporting ceremony, with one save and an earned run average of 7.25 in 22 ⅓ innings in 20 games. It was attractive that he was able to throw fastballs that ranged over 150 kilometers at any time, but he suffered from chronic anxiety over his ball control.
Kim Seo-hyun faced a turning point after "master" Kim Kyung-moon took the helm of Hanwha in June last year. He improved further after meeting with Kim Kyung-moon and pitching coach Yang Sang-moon. He received a report card in compliance with 37 games, 38 ⅓, 1 win, 2 losses and 10 holds with an ERA of 3.76.
Kim Seo-hyun is one of the key players in Hanwha's bullpen this year, which marks its third year. If Kim Seo-hyun secures the back door in the must-win group, Hanwha's bid for fall baseball can receive great strength.
Yang Sang-moon, the pitching coach, believes that Kim Seo-hyun has grown further through intensive training throughout the winter. As the pitching balance is stabilized, the control problem is gradually being resolved.
After the match against KIA on the 25th, pitching coach Yang Sang-moon said, "Kim Seo-hyun had a really good pitching balance today. I only threw fastballs and sliders instead of folk balls that I trained hard before this season, and as a result, I maintained a good pitching balance. Now I can see him throwing stably little by little."
"I didn't catch anything in particular. It was the result of Kim Seo-hyun's hard work," he said. "It seems that simple approach and competition on the mound are leading to success. I am not very involved in folk balls yet as I see him trying to find a way to throw well."