The catcher who received Ryu Hyun-jin and Kim Kwang-hyun's ball should have caught it faster…It's so sad.

Jul 26, 2025

The catcher who received Ryu Hyun-jin and Kim Kwang-hyun's ball should have caught it faster…It's so sad.
Lee Jae-won interviews at Hanwha Life Ballpark in Daejeon on the 26th. Photo = Reporter Na Yuri



"Both should have played in their prime, but it's a shame."

Hanwha Eagles Ryu Hyun-jin and SSG Landers Kim Kwang-hyun will face off for the first time since their professional debut. The two teams announced Ryu Hyun-jin and Kim Kwang-hyun as starting pitchers in the game to be held at Hanwha Life Ball Park in Daejeon on the 26th, respectively. It will be their first face-to-face match since their professional debut.

Ryu Hyun-jin, who was born in 1987, joined Hanwha in the second round of the first round in 2006, and pitched 201 ⅔ innings in his debut season, achieving a triple crown with 18 wins and an ERA of 2.23. That year, he won the Rookie of the Year and the regular season MVP. Since then, Hanwha has played the role of an indomitable ace even when it was in the dark with low-ranking performances, and has also been listed as the first case in history to go straight from the KBO league to the Major League.




He, who recorded 78 wins, 48 losses, one save, and an ERA of 3.27 in 186 games over 10 years in the Major League, wrapped up his challenge at the end of the 2023 season and made a comeback to his former team Hanwha.

The catcher who received Ryu Hyun-jin and Kim Kwang-hyun's ball should have caught it faster…It's so sad.
The Hanwha-KT match held at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on the 20th. Hanwha starter Ryu Hyun-jin is warming up before taking the mound. Suwon = Reporter Jung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.7.20/
Kim Kwang-hyun also walked the path of an "orthodox ace". Kim Kwang-hyun, who was born in 1988 and one year younger than Ryu Hyun-jin, joined the SK Wyverns (current SSG Landers) as the first local designation in 2007. Kim Kwang-hyun, who had been expected to be a top prospect since joining the team, quickly stood as the team's ace with 16 wins and 4 losses with a 2.39 ERA in 2008, his second year as a professional. In particular, Kim Kwang-hyun had a great presence as an ace pitcher in his 20s, who led the history of the SK dynasty in the second half of the 2000s and the early 2010s.

Both also made a mark for the national team. In particular, Ryu Hyun-jin and Kim Kwang-hyun were the key one-two punches on the mound during the 2008 Beijing Olympics victory gold medal. Ryu Hyun-jin, who pitched for the gold medal as the starting pitcher for the final, and Kim Kwang-hyun, who was called the 'Japanese killer'. Since then, the two have continued to show their presence as left-handers for the national team. In the past, there was a chance to face off as a starter once in 2010, but it was canceled due to the rain delay. Now, he has passed his peak and has become a veteran pitcher in his mid-to-late 30s, but his first face-off has finally been made.




The catcher who received Ryu Hyun-jin and Kim Kwang-hyun's ball should have caught it faster…It's so sad.
Lotte-SSG match held at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 14th. Kim Kwang-hyun, who handled Kim Min-sung with a double play in the top of the fourth inning with one out and one on the first base, is delighted. Incheon = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.6.14/
Lee Jae-won, a catcher from SSG who currently plays for Hanwha, is one of the few catchers who has received both balls. Lee Jae-won has been working together since Kim Kwang-hyun's rookie days, and after the transfer to Hanwha, the meeting with Ryu Hyun-jin, his friend of the same age, finally took place.

Lee Jae-won, who met with reporters before the game on the 26th, said "I wish I had done it sooner, but I think it was too late. If I had done it in my heyday, I could have hit Hyunjin's cheek while receiving Kwanghyun's ball. I feel sorry that the match was held too late. I think I would have competed more strongly if I had done it when I was younger." It is a sincere regret that can be done because they are so close.

The catcher who received Ryu Hyun-jin and Kim Kwang-hyun's ball should have caught it faster…It's so sad.
Hanwha Lee Jae-won is training for defense in a game between KT and Hanwha at Hanwha Life Ball Park in Daejeon on the 5th. Daejeon = Reporter's book@sportschosun.com/2025.06.05/
`We didn't say anything special because both of them must have prepared a lot ahead of today's game, but we only talked about eating together soon,' Lee Jae-won said. `Ryu Hyun-jin and Kim Kwang-hyun have completely different styles. It's hard to compare because they're very different, but it's hard for me to evaluate because they've both had successful careers and they're great pitchers. I hope we can stay together for a long time without getting any injuries," he said in good words.




Many times "It's a pity that the confrontation took place too late."Lee Jae-won, who said "I hope we can enjoy each other a little more now. It's a game that fans also focus on, and I think it's important for Korean baseball itself to become a bigger issue while enjoying it. I'm thinking well about it (in terms of issues)," he smiled.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.