Jang Si-hwan’s start to 2023 is not so good.
The Hanwha Eagles lost the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League regular season home opener against SSG Landers held at Daejeon Hanwha Life Insurance Eagles Park on the 7th, 3-7 in the 10th overtime.
It was a result that shocked more than just losing a game. It was the home opener, and so many fans found the stadium that it was hard to find an empty seat. Firecrackers were set up to create a festive atmosphere. The 7th and 8th innings tied and reversed, and even wrote an amazing scenario. But in an instant, all of this collapsed.토토사이트
Hanwha succeeded in a 3-1 comeback by beating SSG’s veteran bullpen. It was Jang Si-hwan who climbed the mound in the ninth save situation, which was the first time this season. Having written a career high with 14 saves in the last 2022 season, he took his first save opportunity under the trust of coach Carlos Subero.
Jang Si-hwan did not start this season very well. In the away game against Kiwoom Heroes on the 1st, he gave up 3 hits, 1 walk and 1 run (1 earned) in 0.2 innings. After the 10th inning of extra time, he hit Kim Hye-seong with a double and Lee Jeong-hoo with an automatic 4th pitch, then Edison Russell and Lee Hyeong-jong hit consecutively and had to take responsibility for the loss. With this, Shim Soo-chang’s 18 consecutive losses and 19 consecutive losses, the most consecutive losses in the KBO League history, ended up being written.
On the 6th, in the Samsung Lions expedition, he took the mound in the 9th inning with an 8-1 lead, and managed to block as many as 5 batters with 2 hits and 1 walk.
Neither of the last two games was a save situation, and even the Samsung match had plenty of room as it was ahead with a large score difference. However, Jiang Si-hwan did not have any of his pitches that he showed last season. Even so, coach Subero did not lose his trust. In the end, against SSG, it provided an opportunity in a save situation.
Jang Si-hwan was beaten by lead batter Choi Jeong from the first pitch and allowed a double. Afterwards, Choi Joo-hwan also got a double hit, 2-3, and Hanyu-seom gave four balls, eventually being replaced by Yoon San-heum. It was the worst pitch that did not catch even one out count.
Afterwards, Yoon San-heum gave Park Seong-han a walk, then struck out Oh Tae-gon and seemed to breathe a sigh. However, in the match against the pinch hitter Jeon Eui-san, after a push-out walk, he allowed a 3-3 tie, providing an excuse for a come-from-behind defeat without maintaining a two-point lead.
The Hanwha bullpen collapsed as it was. In the 10th inning, Han Seung-hyeok and Joo Hyun-sang gave up 4 points and destroyed themselves.
There was definitely a chance to end with victory. However, Jang Si-hwan’s appearance in the ninth inning, which was not in good condition at the beginning of the season, is somewhat disappointing. Even if another pitcher is put in his place, there is no guarantee that a different result will come out. Director Subero showed his faith in Jang Si-hwan, and he did not get an answer.
That’s why it’s even more disappointing. If Jang Si-hwan saved after blocking the ninth inning, the last slump could have just happened. It could have been a rebound point. However, this time, he was unable to protect the team, and only a question mark was attached.
Hanwha has been losing more and more this season due to a lack of support. At the beginning of the season, if these losses increase, it will eventually collapse easily in the middle and second half. It is a formula that has been proven by all sports other than baseball. There is also the need to make quick decisions. Hanwha is a team that can’t afford it. If Jiang Shihwan can’t stand tight situations, he has no reason to insist on finishing. It is worth paying attention to Subero’s choice.