Ryu Hyun-jin started against the Lotte Giants in the "2024 KBO Exhibition Game" held at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 17th and recorded six hits, six strikeouts and two runs in five innings (76).
In his last actual pitch ahead of the season opener (against the Jamsil LG Twins) on the 23rd, Ryu Hyun-jin also increased the number of pitches to nearly 80 and checked various pitches such as change-up, curve, and cutter. The maximum speed was 144km/h, which was slightly lower than that of the match against KIA (148km), and several actual pitches were made.
Even in such a situation, Ryu Hyun-jin managed to block five innings with two runs.
In fact, it was a score that should not have given two runs. Hanwha's poor defense came out in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs and runners on the first and second bases, Jeon Joon-woo's missed ball floated to the right side of the outfield and seemed to end the inning, but right fielder Lim Jong-chan failed to catch the ball as he failed to catch the spot where the ball fell due to sunlight. In the meantime, all the runners homered, and as he was recorded as a timely hit, all the runners' runs led to Ryu Hyun-jin's own run.
As Ryu lost the game due to unfortunate defense, he could have lost ground in front of some 10,000 spectators. The stadium was filled with 13,766 open seats.
Undaunted, however, Ryu struck out Yoo Kang-nam with a changeup on the outside, and threw a fastball towards his body to secure the strikeout (three pitches). Some baseball fans jokingly said that Ryu struck out three angry pitches right after his defense error.
It wasn't an anger. He focused more on the idea that if he gets hit harder in such a trend, the situation could worsen. After finishing the third and fifth innings, he visited Lim Jong-chan in the dugout, slapped his hip, and even patted his cheek. Hanwha fans were also happy to see the scene through the video.
Lim Jong-chan, who started as the fifth batter, left a disappointment in defense, but he contributed greatly to Hanwha's 14-2 victory by scoring three hits, four RBIs and one run in five at-bats, starting with a timely hit in the first inning, a timely two-run hit after a defensive mistake and a double in the fifth inning.
Ryu, who has shown consistent pitching and leadership, will focus on the opening game on Sunday. After finishing the opening game schedule, he will face the KT Wiz in his home opener on Sunday. If he becomes a winning pitcher in both games, he will achieve 100 wins in the KBO League. Thanks to Ryu's success, Hanwha's hope for the happy baseball is also rising. 먹튀검증