Will “Monster” Ryu Hyun-jin be able to save the Hanwha Eagles, who are in danger with a revival.
Hanwha, led by head coach Kim Kyung-moon, will play the 2026 professional baseball KBO League regular season home game against manager Lee Bum-ho’s KIA Tigers at Hanwha Life Ball Park in Daejeon on the 20th.
Ryu Hyun-jin will be the starting pitcher. In name and reality, Ryu Hyun-jin is a left-hander representing Korean baseball. He made his professional debut in 2006 in Hanwha’s uniform and posted 125 wins, 71 losses, one save and an ERA of 3.01 in 263 KBO league games (1,670.1 innings). In the 2013-2023 season, he entered the Major League Baseball (MLB) and played 186 games (1,055.1 innings), recording 78 wins, 48 losses, one save, and an ERA of 3.27.
사진 확대 The “2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League” Hanwha Eagles and Doosan Bears match was held at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on the afternoon of the 13th. Hanwha starter Ryu Hyun-jin, who received a three-run home run by Doosan Yang Eui-ji in the bottom of the fourth inning with one out and runners on the first and second bases, is being replaced. Photo = Reporter Kim Young-gu 
사진 확대 The “2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League” Hanwha Eagles and Doosan Bears match was held at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on the afternoon of the 13th. Hanwha starter Ryu Hyun-jin is disappointed after a three-run home run by Doosan Yang Eui-ji in the bottom of the fourth inning with one out and runners on the first and second bases. Photo = Reporter Kim Young-gu
His presence was huge again this year. He played in 15 games (87.2 innings) in the first half and recorded 8 wins, 2 losses, and a 2.67 ERA, firmly maintaining Hanwha’s starting lineup. Records were also set consecutively, with 200 wins and 2,500 strikeouts in Korea and the U.S.
However, he has not been able to laugh in the second half of the year. He failed to win the match against the Kiwoom Heroes in Daejeon (eight hits and two outs in 5.1 innings, seven strikeouts and four runs/No-Dish) on July 19, the LG Twins in Daejeon (two innings, six hits, two homers, one strikeout, four runs/No-Dish), and the KT Wiz match in Suwon (five innings, seven hits, two strikeouts, three strikeouts and four runs/loss) on July 31. In the game against the Doosan Bears in Jamsil on the 13th, which was the previous mound, he suffered the defeat by pitching the worst with nine hits, one homer, two strikeouts, three strikeouts, eight runs and seven earned runs in 3.1 innings.
The performance in the second half of the year is two losses in four games and a 10.69 ERA. Clearly, there is a desperate need for an opportunity to rebound.
사진 확대 The “2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League” Hanwha Eagles and Doosan Bears match was held at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on the afternoon of the 13th. In the bottom of the third inning with two outs and runners on the first and second bases, Hanwha starter Ryu Hyun-jin is regretful after a timely RBI hit by Doosan’s Cho Ha-sung. Photo = Reporter Kim Young-gu
Fortunately, he has good memories this season against KIA, which he will meet this time. We met twice and threw well with two wins and a 1.50 ERA (two runs in 12 innings). Coincidentally, he also won his last victory against KIA in Daejeon on June 11.
Recently, Hanwha is facing a clear crisis. This is why he has lost five consecutive games. He ranks sixth with 48 wins, three draws and 55 losses. He is eight games behind fifth-ranked Doosan (57 wins, four draws and 48 losses), which is the last line to advance to the postseason. In this situation, if Ryu Hyun-jin plays well and wins on the day, Hanwha can continue its hope of autumn baseball. Will Ryu Hyun-jin be able to save Hanwha, which is on the verge of a revival.
Meanwhile, KIA foretold Hwang Dong-ha in response. Hwang Dong-ha, who was called by KIA as No. 65 in the second round of 7 in 2022, is a right-handed pitcher with 13 wins, 17 losses and a 4.98 ERA in 77 games (249.1 innings). This year, he has played 21 games (79 innings) and is 7 wins, 5 losses and 1 hold with a 4.90 ERA.
사진 확대 The “2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League” Hanwha Eagles and Doosan Bears match was held at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on the afternoon of the 13th. Hanwha starter Ryu Hyun-jin is pitching hard. Photo = Reporter Kim Young-gu
[Lee Hanjoo, MK Sports Reporter]