FA's 7.8 billion man Um Sang-baek's poor shock, head coach Kim Kyung-moon is also considering the rotation in the second half of the year

Jul 10, 2025

FA's 7.8 billion man Um Sang-baek's poor shock, head coach Kim Kyung-moon is also considering the rotation in the second half of the year
The game between Hanwha and KIA at Hanwha Life Ballpark in Daejeon on the 9th. Hanwha starter Um Sang-baek, who is replaced after allowing an RBI double to KIA Kim Kyu-sung in the fourth inning. Daejeon =Reporter Song Jeong-heon@sportschosun.com/2025.07.09/



"I'll think about it a little bit."

Has a crisis come to Um Sang-baek for the 'FA 7.8 billion won man'.

Um Sang-baek became the first FA in his career ahead of this season, and wore a Hanwha Eagles uniform on a tremendous condition of 7.8 billion won for four years.




However, his first season at Hanwha is not good enough. Including the poor performance against the KIA Tigers on the 9th, he showed an extreme slump of 1 win, 6 losses and 6.33 ERA in 15 games this season. After their only win against the NC Dinos on April 18, they did not win for the 11th time in a row. Fortunately, despite Um Sang-baek's sluggish performance, Hanwha defeated KIA and won five consecutive games, maintaining its single No. 1 position.

Hanwha's poor performance on the team is being obscured, but it is very painful in the professional world to not show good performance as a high-paid player.

Players with high salaries have some opportunities. But it's not forever either.




FA's 7.8 billion man Um Sang-baek's poor shock, head coach Kim Kyung-moon is also considering the rotation in the second half of the year
Director Kim Kyung-moon watching the athletes train.
Hanwha manager Kim Kyung-moon, who met ahead of the last game of the first half against KIA on the 10th, said of Um Sang-baek, `Sang-baek threw more than five innings and would have felt better if we had won.' `If Sang-baek gives us confidence in the second half, our team will gain more strength. I think it'll give me more strength in the second half of the year" he said.

Then, will he be able to put his name on the starting rotation without any problems in the second half of the year. Coach Kim responded, `So far, if (Hwang) Jun-seo waited behind Sangbaek, I think we should think about it in the process of preparing for the second half. I'm currently thinking about it."

It was not a definite answer, but it was a very cautious expression, but it was clearly a message with a strong meaning. Hanwha has a very solid starting rotation of Ponce, Twice, Moon Dong-ju and Ryu Hyun-jin. On top of that, two left-handers, Hwang Joon-seo and Cho Dong-wook, are also players who can always start. Hanwha should continue its current momentum in the second half of the year and seek to win the regular season. Every game is precious. Um Sang-baek may not be given the chance to start so leisurely.








This article was translated by Naver AI translator.