Hanwha Eagles Secure First Half Lead With Dominant Sweep

The Hanwha Eagles have made a historic statement in the 2025 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League by clinching first place in the first half of the season, a feat they have not achieved in over three decades. Their dominant performance culminated on July 6, 2025, at Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome, where they swept the weekend series against the Kiwoom Heroes with a commanding 10-1 victory.

This win marked Hanwha’s third consecutive triumph, solidifying their record at 49 wins, 2 draws, and 33 losses, and a .598 winning percentage. This impressive record guarantees them at least a shared top spot in the first half of the league, ending a 12,072-day wait since they last held the first-half lead back in June 1992 during the Binggrae era.

The game’s star was undoubtedly Hanwha’s starting pitcher Ryan Weiss, who delivered a masterclass on the mound. Weiss pitched six innings, allowing just two hits and two walks, while striking out an astonishing 11 batters without surrendering a run. His performance earned him his 10th win of the season, a milestone that underscores his critical role in Hanwha’s success this year.

Supporting Weiss was a reliable bullpen, featuring Kim Beom-soo, Jo Dong-wook, Kim Jong-soo, and Yoon San-heul. Collectively, they preserved the shutout for the majority of the game, with Yoon San-heul conceding a single run in the ninth inning during his first appearance back from military service.

Offensively, Hanwha’s lineup was a force to be reckoned with. The starting nine included Lee Won-seok in right field, Luis Rivera patrolling center, Moon Hyun-bin in left, Noh Si-hwan at third base, designated hitter Chae Eun-seong, first baseman Kim Tae-yeon, second baseman Lee Do-yoon, catcher Lee Jae-won, and shortstop Shim Woo-jun. Each contributed to a well-rounded attack that overwhelmed the Kiwoom pitching staff.

Chae Eun-seong continued his hot streak by blasting his 14th home run of the season, marking his second consecutive game with a homer. Luis Rivera, Noh Si-hwan, and Lee Won-seok also sent the ball over the fence, tallying their 2nd, 17th, and 4th home runs respectively. Notably, Lee Won-seok, Rivera, Noh, and Kim Tae-yeon all recorded multiple hits, showcasing the depth and balance of Hanwha’s batting order.

Kiwoom Heroes struggled to find their rhythm against Weiss and the Hanwha defense, managing only four hits throughout the contest. Their starting pitcher, Park Joo-seong, pitched a quality start by going six innings and allowing three runs on four hits, including one home run. Despite his solid outing, the lack of offensive support doomed his chances of earning a win.

The Kiwoom bullpen faltered under pressure, with Park Yoon-seong allowing four runs in a single inning, and Park Jung-hoon conceding three runs in his appearance. Yoon Seok-won was the only reliever to keep the Eagles scoreless during his inning of work. These struggles compounded Kiwoom’s difficulties in mounting a comeback.

The game unfolded with Kiwoom’s Lee Ju-hyung reaching second base on a first-inning throwing error by Hanwha’s first baseman, but their rally was stifled when Choi Ju-hwan struck out, leaving two runners stranded. Hanwha quickly seized momentum in the second inning when Noh Si-hwan drew a walk, and Chae Eun-seong followed with a two-run homer to give the Eagles an early lead.

Hanwha kept the pressure on with subsequent hits from Kim Tae-yeon and Lee Do-yoon, setting up scoring opportunities that Lee Jae-won capitalized on with an RBI groundout, extending the lead to 3-0. Although Shim Woo-jun and Lee Won-seok grounded out to end the inning, the damage was done.

Kiwoom’s offense showed glimpses of life in the third inning when Song Seong-moon doubled with two outs, but they failed to convert as Choi Ju-hwan grounded out to third base. Hanwha’s offense continued to threaten, with Shim Woo-jun singling in the fifth and Luis Rivera drawing a walk to put runners on first and second. Despite Moon Hyun-bin’s RBI single advancing runners, Noh Si-hwan struck out to end the threat.

Kiwoom’s defense was tested in the fifth inning when Kim Kun-hee reached second base on a throwing error by Shim Woo-jun. Walks to Jeon Tae-hyun and Song Seong-moon loaded the bases, but Lim Ji-yeol’s strikeout ended the inning without a run.

Hanwha’s seventh inning was the turning point. Shim Woo-jun and Lee Won-seok hit back-to-back singles before Luis Rivera smashed a three-run homer, effectively putting the game out of reach. Noh Si-hwan added a solo shot, pushing the lead further. The Eagles’ offense was relentless, and Kiwoom’s pitching could not contain the barrage.

In the eighth inning, Kiwoom managed to create a scoring opportunity with singles and walks, but once again, they failed to capitalize as Choi Ju-hwan struck out and Joo Seong-won grounded out to shortstop Shim Woo-jun. The Eagles’ defense stood firm when it mattered most.

The ninth inning saw Hanwha’s Lee Won-seok hit a solo home run to add to the lead. Luis Rivera followed with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Although Yoo Ro-gyeol struck out looking, Noh Si-hwan delivered an RBI single, and subsequent hits by Hwang Young-mok and Kim Tae-yeon extended the score to 10-0.

Kiwoom’s final run came in the bottom of the ninth when Yoon San-heul, recently returned from military service, took the mound for Hanwha. Despite a wild pitch and a balk that allowed a run to score, he managed to close out the game without further damage, sealing a 10-1 victory for the Eagles.

Throughout the game, Hanwha’s defense shone, highlighted by shortstop Shim Woo-jun’s spectacular plays. One memorable moment came in the fifth inning when Ryan Weiss smiled approvingly at Shim’s glove work during a ground ball from Kiwoom’s Eo Jun-seo, a testament to the team’s cohesive effort on both sides of the ball.

This victory not only cements Hanwha Eagles’ position atop the KBO League standings but also signals a resurgence for a franchise that has waited decades to reclaim first place at the halfway mark. With their balanced lineup, dominant pitching, and solid defense, the Eagles have set a high bar for the rest of the league as the season progresses.

As the KBO League moves into the latter half of the season, all eyes will be on Hanwha to see if they can maintain this momentum and translate their first-half success into a championship run. For now, their fans can savor a historic achievement and the thrilling baseball that has brought the Eagles back into the spotlight.