Is it because of 7.8 billion won? You don't even have to be an ace...What's the problem with the strongest Ponce-Ryu Hyunjin TWICE in the league

May 28, 2025

A game between Lotte and Hanwha at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 23rd. Hanwha Um Sang-baek is warming up with his colleagues. Busan = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.04.23/

Is it because of the pressure of 7.8 billion won. Hanwha Eagles Um Sang-baek is still making shaky performances on the mound while he has confirmed his return to the first division.

Ahead of this season, Um Sang-baek became the first FA in his life and signed a four-year contract with Hanwha for a total of 7.8 billion won. Hanwha already has two clear domestic aces, Ryu Hyun-jin and Moon Dong-ju, but decided that it should build a stronger starting lineup to advance to the fall baseball with the relocation of the new stadium. Um Sang-baek was recognized for his stability with 82 games (70 starts), 31 wins and 18 losses, 408 ⅔ innings, and a 3.88 ERA in three seasons at KT Wiz from 2022 to last year.

However, after moving to Hanwha, Um Sang-baek has yet to show his skills. After only 1-4 losses, 32 ⅓ innings and a 6.68 ERA in eight games, he went down to the second division. Just one quality start. There were only three games that filled five innings.

The same goes for moving to the Futures League. Um Sang-baek took the mound twice against Sangmu on the 21st and the Goyang Heroes (Kium Heroes' 2nd division) on the 27th, and only had 6 ⅔ innings and an ERA of 6.75 without winning or losing. It did not collapse by giving up four pitches, but the hit rate was very high at 0.333. It was painful to give up one home run every game. In the first team, the hit rate was also high at 0.323, but it was difficult to say that this problem was improved.

Hanwha decided that Um Sang-baek did not show a clean pitching in the second division, but it is time to come up to the first division. Just in time, Moon Dong-ju needed a break. Moon Dong-ju was 5-2 with 51 ⅓ innings and an ERA of 3.68 in 10 games, which was canceled from the first-team entry after collapsing to six runs in four ⅔ innings against the Lotte Giants in Daejeon on the 25th. I needed a break.

The NC-Hanwha match at Hanwha Life Ball Park in Daejeon on the 20th. Ponce, who pitched seven scoreless innings, embraces Um Sang-baek. Daejeon = Reporter Jung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025..4.20/

The Doosan-Hanwha match held at Hanwha Life Ball Park in Daejeon on the 13th is being congratulated by Ryu Hyun-jin's Ponce Moon Dong-ju Um Sang-baek, who pitched well with one run in six innings. Daejeon = Reporter Jung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025..May 13/

Hanwha manager Kim Kyung-moon said "I pitched well in Ulsan (six scoreless innings against the NC Dinos) and became a winning pitcher, but I felt tired at that time, too. That way, you learn how to type. I thought I should give the team a break because I wanted to. Looking at Dong-ju's condition from now on, he needs a sense of play, so I think he'll throw it in the second division and join when he's okay", he explained.

Coach Kim predicted that Um Sang-baek will start against Changwon NC on the 31st. This is where Moon Dong-ju is missing. If Hanwha recruited Um Sang-baek as an ace to lead the starting team in the first place, the current slump would be a burden, but Hanwha's starting lineup is solid enough to face the season as a fourth starter. Currently, he has played 53 games, ranking first in the league with a 3.37 ERA as a team starter. Cody Ponce, Ryu Hyun-jin, and Ryan Weiss are holding very solid, so Um Sang-baek doesn't have to feel much pressure. It means that you will need a performance worthy of the ransom, but since you have colleagues, it doesn't matter if you put down a little burden and throw it.

Hanwha ranks second with 31 wins and 22 losses in the season. Despite a fierce battle for first place with the LG Twins and Lotte Giants, they are holding up well without collapsing. One of the supports is a solid starting lineup, and if Um Sang-baek joins, it will be the icing on the cake. Will Um Sang-baek be able to empty his complicated thoughts and return to help Hanwha's lead fight.

A game between Kiwoom and Hanwha at Hanwha Life Ball Park in Daejeon on the 12th, and Hanwha Um Sang-baek, the first base with no outs in the top of the third inning, caught a ground ball in front of Kiwoom Kim Woong-bin's pitch and threw it to first base, but he is disappointed when it became an infield hit. Daejeon = Reporter's book@sportschosun.com/2025.04.12/

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.