For the third year in a row, a super-sized rookie pitcher. The Hanwha Eagles’ spring training is heating up every year.

Heading into the 2022 season, Moon Dong-ju was the most anticipated newcomer. In the 2022 rookie draft, which was the last chance for local players to be selected, Hanwha exercised its right to select a national player instead of a local player, and without hesitation, chose the Gwangju Promotion High School pitcher.

Moon, who was one of the “two-tops” among Gwangju’s players alongside Kim Do-young, became the first player to wear a Hanwha uniform when Kia chose Kim after much deliberation.

The anticipation started at camp.

Moon started his first spring training with the second team instead of the first team, but he already showed a fast pace in February, topping out at 150 kilometers. By the end of spring training, his fastball was up to 155 mph. The big rookie’s ability to throw hard fastballs was evident from the first camp.

Unfortunately, Moon suffered an adductor muscle injury before his debut and was unable to make the opening roster, but he used the setbacks of his rookie season as a calling card to win the Rookie of the Year award in his second year. Now, he’s elevated his career to the national team. It is clear that he is growing step by step as everyone expected.

A year ago, Kim Seo-hyun, the first-round rookie who succeeded Moon Dong-joo, stole the show in spring training. 스포츠토토 The Seoul High pitcher was Hanwha’s highest overall pick in the rookie draft, which was conducted as a full-scale draft. With a fastball that touched 160 mph from the youth national team, Kim was in the spotlight from the moment he was drafted. The Moon-Dong-joo-Kim Seo-hyun dream combination was highly anticipated.

Kim’s first camp was full of twists and turns due to a social media controversy, but he raised expectations by hitting 158km in an exhibition game.

Kim’s fastball record was the center of attention.

He spent more time in the second team than the first in his first season due to his struggles with his pitches, but like Moon Dong-joo in his second year, he is looking to turn things around in his second chance.

This year’s camp is centered around another big rookie, Hwang Jun-seo. Hwang Jun-seo, a pitcher from Jangchung High School, is another first-round overall pick. Hanwha suffered the ultimate humiliation of finishing last for the third consecutive season in 2020-2022, but it is a consolation to have Moon Dong-ju, Kim Seo-hyun, and Hwang Jun-seo.

Hwang Jun-seo, who has been in the spotlight since his high school days for his slender frame and steady delivery, is currently training with the seniors at the first team’s spring camp in Melbourne, Australia. On the 15th, he pitched in his first exhibition game, facing four batters and throwing a clean game with two strikeouts. He threw 11 of his 16 pitches for strikes and topped out at 144 mph. Even against the veteran Kim Kang-min, he spread his pitches around and induced a swinging strikeout with three splitters.

The emergence of a big, fearless rookie pitcher. Hanwha’s spring training is hot again this year.