Manager Kim Kyung-moon of the Hanwha Eagles picked defense as one of the major challenges to advance to the semifinals. Hanwha left Incheon International Airport for its spring camp in Melbourne, Australia on Tuesday. The 61-member team, including Kim Kyung-moon, nine coaching staff, six training coaches and 45 players, left the team.메이저놀이터

Coach Kim Kyung-moon said in an interview with reporters before leaving the country, "I finished the final training last year well, and seeing the faces of the players, I feel good before I left because I think I prepared well," adding, "I was very hurt because I couldn't keep my promise to the fans last year. The players and the coaching staff sweat hard, so I will definitely make a season to repay the fans this year."

Choi Won-ho resigned in the middle of last year's season, and Kim Kyung-moon took the helm in May. The team was competing for the fifth place in early September, but failed to show solid commitment and finished the season in eighth place. The team is aiming to advance to the postseason with the opening of a new stadium called Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark this year. 

"I drew 75 to 80 percent of the time in the final training session. I will fill the remaining 20 percent in the spring camp now," Kim said. He also mentioned three tasks.

Manager Kim said, "The first homework should make the selection stronger. In addition to a few starters, we need to prepare four to five more starters for when the starter is sick. After that, there were not many errors in defense last year, but there were many invisible errors. I will also strengthen my mobility one by one to make a season where fans can feel that Hanwha has changed a lot while watching baseball." 

For years, many pointed out that Hanwha's defense capability is weak. It ranked sixth in the league with 105 errors last year. However, it allowed rival players one more base, or it lacked many weak points in defense, both inside and outside. 

Since last year's closing camp, the team has trained a lot in defense. "No matter how much defense we talk about and practice, we are not disappointed," Kim said. "Ninety percent of baseball is defense. (If defense is bad), the team will not allow pitchers to throw another inning, and the team will quickly drop off bullpen pitchers. What weak teams have in common is defense," he stressed. 

"We need to strengthen our defense and beat stronger teams to become stronger teams. We need to show off our unique colors one by one and repay the Hanwha fans for their support even though our performance is poor. Not just words, but also the players have changed a lot now," he said.

FA infielders should be at the center of defense. Hanwha's main lineup is first baseman Chae Eun-seong, second baseman An Chi-hong, shortstop Shim Woo-joon and third baseman Noh Si-hwan. 

With the 2023 season just around the corner, Hanwha has acquired Chae Eun-seong as a free agent for up to nine billion won (9 million U.S. dollars) for six years. In the 2024 season, the Korean team has acquired Ahn Chi-hong as a free agent for up to 7.2 billion won (6.37 million dollars) for four plus two years. In this winter, it acquired Shim Woo-joon as a four-year, maximum contract of 5 billion won (approx. In particular, shortstop Shim Woo-joon was brought in while being criticized for "overpay" in order to become the center of Hanwha's infield. 

Chae Eun-sung, who left the country on the same day, said, "I think I will only play first base this year. I go out to the outfield if I ask to go out to the outfield, but it doesn't help if I go out to the outfield. I think first base is better," and added, "The coach also talked a lot about defense, so when I go out to first base, I have better concentration in defense." 

He also emphasizes defense in the spring camp. "We have to do that much. I don't think it's too much. Doing group exercises and then individuals train more is the real training," Kim said. "I would like to practice for four days to four days, but decide to do it for four days to three days. For the final camp, we decided to do it for four days to four days. Practice and games should be combined. Since many young players do not have much experience, I think we need to practice more," he reiterated.