KIA → 3rd year of transfer to Hanwha

Hanwha won the game 6 to 5 at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon on Sunday. Lee Min-woo is delighted.

Lee Min-woo of Hanwha Eagles and SSG Landers at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 27th.

“It was nice to do what I like.”

Lee Min-woo 31, Hanwha Eagles rekindled a forgotten record against the Lotte Giants in Daejeon on the 4th.

Park Sang-won came up to end the game with a 6-4 lead in the top of the ninth inning. Park got a hit by leadoff hitter Junghoon Lee, and lost a point due to wild pitches and defensive errors. With runners on first base, Hanwha manager Choi Won-ho lowered Park Sang-won, who was the closing pitcher, and raised Lee Min-woo. Lee Min-woo warmed up in the top of the eighth inning, but did not take the mound as Han Seung-hyuk, who went ahead, blocked one inning without allowing a point. After warming up with a crisis, Lee caught Jeon Jun-woo with a fly ball to left field and Roh Jin-hyuk grounded out to end the game. Hanwha won 6-5, and Lee made a save. It has been about five years since the game against the SK Wyverns currently SSG Landers on April 13, 2019, when he was a member of KIA. Lee smiled, “I don’t care about the save that much. I’m so happy that it helped my team win.”

At an exhibition game between KIA and Hanwha held at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon on Sunday, Lee Min-woo finished the eighth inning without allowing a single goal.

At an exhibition game between Hanwha and Doosan in the KBO League held at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon on Wednesday, Hanwha Lee Min-woo is pitching hard.

Lee continued his momentum. In the game against Kiwoom Heroes on the 6th, Lee took the mound with no outs and runners on the first and second bases, and handled Kiwoom Kim Hwi-jip with a double play leading to shortstop, second baseman, and Lee Hyung-jong grounded out to the third baseman and finished the inning without losing a point. In the three games he played in April, the scoreless streak continued.

The Hanwha Eagles has become the land of opportunity for Lee Min-woo. Having joined KIA in 2015 as the first draft pick, he mainly played as a starting agent for KIA. After appearing in 105 matches for KIA, he played 45 starts in total. While pitching 202 ⅔ innings, his ERA was not good at 7.46. In April 2022, he was traded to the Hanwha Eagles along with outfielder Lee Jin-young. It was a 2:1 trade in which Hanwha sent pitcher Kim Do-hyeon to KIA. Last year, he played in 17 games, recording 2-1 loss and two holds with an ERA of 2.63.

At an exhibition game between Hanwha and Doosan in the KBO League held at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon on the 18th, commentators Lee Min-woo, Ahn Chi-hong and Na Ji-wan of the Hanwha League greet each other.

Lee Min-woo said, “I received many opportunities from KIA. I used to be a starter a lot, but at first I thought the starter was a good fit. But I was getting more and more energized. I wanted to be an intermediate pitcher, but I couldn’t go out because KIA was good as an intermediate pitcher. As an intermediate pitcher that I like in Hanwha, I felt comfortable and successful.”

The team also prepared for ABS, which has been in effect since this year. “I am going to throw high pitches this year because of ABS. I practiced a lot during the camp,” Lee said.

Hanwha has strengthened its power by recruiting Chae Eun-sung last year and Ahn Chi-hong this year, while Ryu Hyun-jin, who played in the Major League Baseball until last year, returned to the mound. He also garnered seven consecutive wins in the early days of this season.

Lee Min-woo is pitching in an exhibition game between Samsung and Hanwha that took place at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon on Sunday.

Lee Min-woo said, “Especially this year, my team has become more eager to win, so I am trying to win somehow. Everyone is fast in the bullpen. I feel like I will block anyone from leaving the game,” and added, “Everyone wants to play. I am working hard thinking that I should not miss the opportunity as a person who received it.”

Lee said, “My personal goal for this year is 50 games, and it is better to play more than this. My goal is to contribute a lot to my team’s performance.” 안전놀이터