In a postseason brimming with drama, the Hanwha Eagles are pushing the limits in their quest to clinch a coveted spot in the Korean Series for the first time in 19 years. The tension is palpable as the Eagles, holding a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five 2025 SOL Bank KBO League playoff series, gear up for a potential series-clinching Game 4 against the Samsung Lions at Daegu Samsung Lions Park.
The Eagles’ playoff journey has been anything but smooth, with their bullpen decisions—especially those involving closer Kim Seo-hyun—dominating headlines and sparking heated debates among fans and pundits alike. Kim, just 21 years old, has been at the center of both hope and controversy for Hanwha. During the regular season, he was a pillar of reliability, notching 33 saves with a 3.14 ERA across 69 appearances. But the postseason has exposed cracks in his armor, with his ERA ballooning to 5.68 and his once-unshakable confidence appearing to waver at critical junctures.
Game 4 on October 22, 2025, was a microcosm of Hanwha’s high-wire act. The Eagles eked out a 9-6 victory over SSG Landers, but the win was far from comfortable. Kim Seo-hyun’s performance, in particular, drew scrutiny. He pitched six innings, but pivotal moments in the 1st and 3rd innings saw him surrender runs that nearly swung the game out of Hanwha’s grasp. A controversial balk call and a missed strike only added fuel to the fire, with many questioning both Kim’s decisions on the mound and the wisdom of keeping him in the game for so long.
Manager Kim Kyung-moon didn’t shy away from addressing the elephant in the room. In a candid postgame press conference, he acknowledged, "Watching Kim Seo-hyun pitch, I felt we needed to finish the game with him. He himself said confidently that he wanted to go all the way to the ninth inning. I’m pleased he pitched well, but it was a close call." According to Kim, the decision to stick with Kim Seo-hyun until the very end was not taken lightly, especially after the closer’s recent struggles. The manager added, "We’ve talked a lot with the coaches about how to help Kim regain his confidence, but the most important thing is for the team to win."
Kim Seo-hyun’s postseason woes began in Game 1, when he took the mound in a 9-6 save situation but managed to record just one out while giving up two runs. His inability to shut the door nearly cost Hanwha the game and raised questions about his reliability in high-pressure scenarios. By Game 3, Kim was conspicuously absent from the mound in another save situation, prompting speculation about his role moving forward. "I’m sure Seo-hyun was disappointed not to come out for the save today," Kim Kyung-moon remarked after Game 3. "But depending on tomorrow’s game situation, I think he’ll have a chance to pitch again."
Despite the doubts, Kim Seo-hyun’s raw talent is undeniable. His fastball, clocked at up to 160 km/h, remains one of the most electric in the league. During the regular season, he struck out 71 batters in 66 innings, helping Hanwha secure their first direct playoff berth in 18 years. But the second half of the season saw his numbers dip—1 win, 3 losses, 1 hold, and 11 saves in 27 appearances, with an inflated 5.68 ERA. The postseason has only magnified these struggles, making every decision involving Kim a potential flashpoint.
Hanwha’s pitching staff has been stretched thin, forcing the team to rely on younger arms. Rookie Jung Woo-joo, just 19 and a first-round pick in the 2025 KBO rookie draft, was tapped to start Game 4. His regular season statistics are impressive: 3-0 with a 2.85 ERA in 51 outings, 82 strikeouts over 53 2/3 innings, and a stunning 1.23 ERA in the second half. Against Samsung, he’s posted a 2.00 ERA in six games, and he’s yet to allow a run in Daegu over 3 2/3 innings. Yet, the pressure of facing Samsung’s potent lineup in a hitter-friendly park is a daunting challenge for any rookie.
Manager Kim Kyung-moon made it clear that Game 4 would be an all-hands-on-deck affair. "We’ll see how long Jung can go. After that, we’ll adjust based on the game’s flow. Even foreign pitchers might come in if necessary," he explained. This approach underscores the urgency: Hanwha is just one win away from the Korean Series, but with their bullpen taxed and their closer under a microscope, nothing is guaranteed.
On the offensive side, Hanwha’s bats have kept them afloat. Over the first three playoff games, the Eagles tallied 15 hits and 9 runs in Game 1, 8 hits and 3 runs in Game 2, and 10 hits and 5 runs in Game 3. Key contributors include Luis Liberato and Ha Joo-seok, who have provided consistent production, while cleanup hitter Noh Si-hwan has delivered in clutch situations. Their ability to match Samsung’s firepower—Samsung led the league in team home runs—has been crucial, especially with the pitching staff’s recent volatility.
Samsung, meanwhile, isn’t backing down. Their ace, Won Tae-in, is set to start Game 4. He’s been a workhorse all season, going 12-4 with a 3.24 ERA over 27 starts, and has proven especially tough in big games. In the postseason, he’s already thrown 211 pitches over two starts, holding opponents to minimal damage. Against Hanwha, he’s 3-1 with a 3.20 ERA this year, and in Daegu, he’s nearly untouchable. But fatigue could be a factor, as he’s logged more than 100 pitches in six regular season games and has been pushed hard in the playoffs.
As the series heads into its most critical juncture, all eyes remain fixed on Kim Seo-hyun. Will he reclaim the dominant form that made him Hanwha’s closer of the future, or will the pressure continue to mount? The answer could determine whether the Eagles finally break their 19-year Korean Series drought or face yet another heartbreak.
With the stakes sky-high and both teams prepared to throw everything they have at the opposition, the only certainty is that fans are in for a nail-biting finish. The Eagles’ faithful can only hope that their young closer finds his rhythm, their rookie starter rises to the occasion, and the bats stay hot—because in this series, every pitch, every at-bat, and every decision could tip the balance.
