Seoul: Hanwha Eagles pitcher Hwang Jun-seo was a hard-luck loser Tuesday night against the LG Twins, getting saddled with the "L" in the box score despite holding the opponents to two runs in five solid innings. A day after the Eagles' 2-1 loss at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, manager Kim Kyung-moon said he couldn't have asked for more from his second-year left-hander.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim expressed satisfaction with Hwang's performance. "He did more than his part," Kim stated regarding the pitcher, who is filling a gap in the rotation due to the absence of a couple of pitchers. "Even though we didn't ultimately win the game, I saw some hope for an even better outing from him next time."
Hwang allowed three hits and two runs in the first inning but recovered to prevent further hits over the next four innings. Meanwhile, the Eagles' offense struggled, managing only five hits and a run against LG Twins' starter Im Chan-kyu and two relievers. Kim noted, "I think Jun-seo went out there thinking he has to come through for the team, given our situation. He probably shouldn't have given up those early runs. But also, he didn't get any help from his teammates, either."
Hwang entered the Korea Baseball Organization with high expectations in 2024 as the No. 1 overall pick in the previous year's draft. During his rookie season, he split time between the rotation and bullpen, finishing with a 2-8 record, one hold, and a 5.38 ERA in 36 appearances. He recorded 70 strikeouts in 72 innings but also issued 51 walks. This year, Hwang is 0-1 in two games with a 3.24 ERA.
The Eagles' rotation has faced challenges, with Um Sang-back demoted to the minors on May 16 due to early-season struggles. More recently, the Eagles removed Moon Dong-ju from the active roster for a brief rest after 10 starts, though he is expected to return after the mandatory 10-day break.