If Hanwha succeeds in getting out of last place this season, who will be in last place?
The Hanwha Eagles stayed in last place for three consecutive years until last year.
Hanwha, who fell to 10th place with 46 wins, 3 draws and 95 losses in 2020, was 4 games behind SK Wyverns (51 wins, 1 draw and 92 losses), who were in 9th place at the time.
However, the game gap with ninth place gradually widened. In 2021, it was 8 games different from the 9th place KIA Tigers, and last year it was 14 games behind the 9th place Doosan Bears. With 46 wins, 2 draws and 96 losses, it set a disgraceful record of being third in the history of the most losses in a single season, following the 1999 Ssangbangwool Raiders (28 wins, 7 draws, 97 losses) and the 2002 Lotte Giants (35 wins, 1 draw, 97 losses).
As the image of a weak team is getting stronger, there are many people who see Hanwha as a strong player, even if they are in last place this season. But Hanwha has changed. In the off-season, Chae Eun-seong, the fourth hitter of the LG Twins, was brought in for 9 billion won for 5 years, and Lee Tae-yang and Oh Seon-jin, who were good C-level free agents, were recruited to reinforce two-hitters. He was active in the investment to the extent of presenting 15 billion won to Yang Eui-ji.
Hanwha, which has been strengthened to some extent, has expectations that pitchers such as Moon Dong-ju, a top rookie who showed potential last year, and Kim Seo-hyun, the first pick this year, will improve. All three foreign players were also changed. They acquired right-handed pitchers Birch Smith (total $1 million) and Felix Pena (total $850,000), and brought in Brian O’Grady (total $900,000) in place of Mike Tuchman, who was disappointing in the long hit last season.
It is true that expectations have risen due to the definite change in the composition of the players. Coach Carlos Subero, who spent two years in the KBO league and paid attention to nurturing prospects, will also take on the challenge this season to improve his performance with prospects who have grown over the years.
If Hanwha escapes from last place this season, the last team out of the remaining nine teams will come out. However, if you are looking for a last-place candidate, you will not find a suitable team. It is because the sub-teams have been reinforced.
Doosan, which was in ninth place, appointed legendary Lee Seung-yeop as its new manager and recruited Yang Eui-ji, the best active catcher, completely changing the atmosphere of the team. 20-win pitcher Raul Alcantara was brought back, and the foreign player lineup was completely changed with right-handed pitcher Dylan Pyle and new hitter Jose Rojas, announcing a new start.
The 8th place Lotte Giants also had a blast of change during the off-season. Although center hitter Lee Dae-ho retired, catcher Yoo Gang-nam was recruited for 4 years and 8 billion won, and shortstop Noh Jin-hyeok signed a 4-year, 5 billion won contract to make up for what was pointed out as a weakness. In addition, Cha Woo-chan, Shin Jeong-rak, Kim Sang-soo, and Yoon Myeong-jun were brought in from the release market to strengthen the mound. 온라인바카라
7th place Samsung Lions did not change. Rather, veteran infielder Kim Sang-soo transferred to KT Wiz. However, the power leak was minimized by renewing contracts with three foreign players, including David Buchanan, Albert Suarez, and Jose Pirella, who showed good results last year.
Only 6th place NC Dinos had a negative power. Losing Yang Eui-ji and Roh Jin-hyuk, NC brought free agent catcher Park Se-hyuk to fill the catcher hole, but did not make much reinforcement this offseason. Still, it is evaluated that it will not collapse easily because the pitching staff including Koo Chang-mo is on the solid side.
Due to the salty reinforcement of the lower teams, it is expected that a more intense match will unfold this season. It is expected that the struggle to escape from the disgrace of last place will be fierce.
Is it possible for Hanwha to leave last place? If Hanwha is not in last place, which team will be in last place? It is the 2023 season that I am curious about the winning team, but also curious about the last place.