Ryu Hyun-jin didn’t even pitch Hanwha exhibition games sold out for two consecutive times, already ‘spring in Daejeon’

Daejeon Stadium was sold out in the opening two exhibition games.

Although ‘returning ace’ Ryu Hyun-jin (37) has not even pitched yet, it seems like spring has already come to Daejeon. The Hanwha Eagles, who have been in the bottom half of the league for many years, are showing great enthusiasm by selling out every day since the start of the exhibition game.

Hanwha played the opening two-game series of the 2024 KBO League exhibition game against the Samsung Lions at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon on the 9th and 10th.

Even though it was the weekend, the weather was still chilly, and even though it was an exhibition game and not an official season, baseball fans filled the stadium. All 12,000 seats for both games were sold out, recording sellouts for the second day in a row.

It has been 9 years since March 7-8, 2015, that a home game held in Daejeon was sold out. 2015 was the first year that coach ‘Yasin’ Kim Seong-geun took office as Hanwha coach, and interest was also strong.

Coach ‘Yasin’ Kim Seong-geun, who thrilled Hanwha fans nine years ago.

If 9 years ago it was the ‘Yasin effect’, this time it is the ‘Ryu Hyun-jin effect’. Ryu Hyun-jin, who was active in the major league until last year, signed the highest contract ever for 8 years and 17 billion won last month and returned to his former team after 12 years.

In the case of Ryu Hyun-jin, as a starting pitcher, he can be seen as stronger than the 'Yasin effect' nine years ago in that he sold out two days in a row even though his pitching date was set. Even though Ryu Hyun-jin does not pitch, fans are enjoying just seeing him in the Hanwha uniform and getting his autograph after the game.

After Ryu Hyun-jin left for the major league, Hanwha went through a long dark period. In the 11 seasons without Ryu Hyun-jin, they advanced to the postseason only once (2018), and finished in last place five times during this period.

They tried their best to recruit great generals such as Kim Eung-yong and Kim Seong-geun and major free agents such as Jeong Geun-woo, Jeong Woo-ram, Kwon Hyuk, and Lee Yong-gyu, but to no avail.

However, some say that this season is ‘really different.’ Over the past five years, as they bottomed out with '9-10-10-10-9', they have collected top-class prospects such as Noh Si-hwan, Moon Dong-ju, Kim Seo-hyun, and Hwang Jun-seo, and they are slowly showing off their skills.

In addition, external recruitment of Chae Eun-seong, Ahn Chi-hong, and Lee Tae-yang strengthened the team's internal strength, and with the addition of 'Ace' Ryu Hyun-jin, a rapid rise can be expected. The fact that an exhibition game was sold out for the first time in 9 years since 2015 can also be seen as a reflection of the expectations of Hanwha fans.

Ryu Hyun-jin will make his first exhibition appearance in the home game against the KIA Tigers on the 12th. Ryu Hyun-jin's appearance on this day is also expected to receive a lot of attention, as his appearance in the Blue and White match, which was held prior to the exhibition game, has already caused a lot of attention.

Ryu Hyun-jin will rest for four days after his first appearance on this day and make his second appearance on the 17th. The opponent is the Lotte Giants, a popular team that is second to none in terms of passion for baseball. Although it is an away game in Busan, it is expected that there will be a lot of spectators.

Although the regular season has not yet opened or the team has yet to take the mound in an exhibition game, the ‘Ryu Hyun-jin effect’ is clearly evident.
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Pub: 11 Mar 2024 02:19 UTC
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