2024-03-25 15:25:54
The appearance of Ryu Hyun-jin (37, Hanwha Eagles), who returned for the first time in 12 years, drew fans to the baseball stadium for the 2024 professional baseball season, and 8 of the 9 games played over two days were sold out, creating an exciting box office success.
A total of 183,846 people attended the professional baseball game held at five stadiums across the country on the 23rd and 24th. The average number of spectators per game was over 20,000, and 14,555 people attended the Changwon Doosan Bears-NC Dinos game on the 24th, which was the only game that was not sold out.
It surpassed the record number of spectators of 8,406,88 recorded in 2017 and took a powerful first step toward reaching 9 million spectators for the first time in history.
When Ryu Hyun-jin, who was a top pitcher in the Major League Baseball (MLB), wore the Eagle Corps uniform for the first time in 12 years, Hanwha became a ‘very popular club.’
When Hanwha, which had been drawing crowds since the exhibition game, faced the ‘defending champion’ LG Twins at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on the 23rd and 24th, the crowds were there as expected.
In particular, during the game on the 23rd when Ryu Hyun-jin took the mound, numerous fans formed a long line in front of the ticket office from early in the morning to purchase about 500 tickets for on-site sales.
However, Ryu Hyun-jin failed to live up to the expectations of Hanwha fans as he became the losing pitcher on his return, allowing 6 hits, 3 walks, and 5 runs (2 earned) in 3⅔ innings.
Ryu Hyun-jin threw a fast ball up to 150 km, but failed to show his unique sharpness, allowing three walks. Thoroughly analyzed Ryu Hyun-jin, ‘Last year’s team ranked first in batting average’ LG hitters twice allowed three consecutive hits.
Ryu Hyun-jin swallowed his regret, saying, “My ball control was shaken. Even if I’m in good condition, it’s no use if I don’t have ball control. I got a vaccination.”
Hanwha also put forward a lineup with strengthened defense for pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin, but it fell apart due to one fatal mistake. In order for Ryu Hyun-jin to perform well up to his reputation, he needs the encouragement of his teammates.
If there are no special variables, Ryu Hyun-jin will start in the home opener against KT Wiz at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon on the 29th and try again for his first win since his return and 99th win in total.
If Ryu Hyun-jin becomes the winning pitcher in this game, he will accumulate the number of wins in the KBO League 4,203 days after the Jamsil Doosan game on September 25, 2012.
The Lotte Giants, who failed to advance to the postseason for six consecutive years since 2018, entrusted the baton to coach Kim Tae-hyung, a three-time Korean Series champion, but got off to a bitter start by losing two consecutive games in the opening game.
Lotte lost 3-5 and 6-7, respectively, in the two-game series against SSG Landers and Incheon. It has been six years since 2018 that Lotte suffered a clean sweep in the opening two games.
It was a loss by 1-2 points, but the content was disappointing. Lotte failed to win even after giving up 19 hits, including 2 home runs, over two days. He also showed weakness in chances, with 21 remaining bases.
In particular, the loss in the game on the 24th was shocking. In the top of the 9th inning, when Lotte was behind 0-6, the batting line exploded late and showed its power to tie the score at 6-6. However, closing pitcher Kim Won-joong, who took the mound in the bottom of the 9th inning, hit a walk-off home run to the first batter, Guillermo Heredia, and lost the game in vain.
SSG and KIA Tigers, who also changed coaches, sang victory hymns side by side. Coach Lee Sung-yong’s SSG and Coach Lee Beom-ho’s KIA won 2 and 1 win, respectively (one game was canceled due to rain), and were tied for the lead with the Samsung Lions (2 wins).
For SSG, Choi Jeong’s one shot, which secured first place for the most home runs in his career, was powerful. Choi Jeong reached 460 home runs in his career by arching for two consecutive days.
Now, if he hits just eight more batted balls over the fence, he will break Doosan coach Lee Seung-yeop’s career record of most home runs (467). Considering Choi Jeong’s home run pace, which boasts peak hitting ability from the beginning, he may set a record within April.
Coach Lee Beom-ho, who plans to immediately challenge for the championship this year, also started the season in good spirits with a win in his debut match. Despite Na Seong-beom’s absence, KIA defeated Kiwoom Heroes 7-5 in the opening game on the 23rd with 13 hits, including 5 runs in the first inning.
However, KIA’s native ace Yang Hyeon-jong, who was scheduled to start on the 24th, was unable to pitch due to rain cancellation. Yang Hyun-jong, whose pitching schedule was uneven last year due to rain at the beginning of the season, had a difficult start from the first game this season as well. Yang Hyun-jong, who rested for two more days, will appear as a starting pitcher against Gwangju Lotte on the 26th.
Reporter Kim Won-geun Photo News 1
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2024-03-25 15:25:54