Daejeon: On April 9, the Hanwha Eagles were languishing at the bottom of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) standings, having secured just five wins against ten losses in their initial 15 games. Despite a revamped starting rotation and an emerging young core, the outlook appeared bleak for the Eagles, who last reached the postseason in 2018 after an 11-year hiatus. However, in a remarkable turn of events, the Eagles now find themselves leading the 10-team league, clinching their ninth consecutive victory with a 10-6 win over the Samsung Lions at home in Daejeon, approximately 140 kilometers south of Seoul, improving their record to 24-13-0.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Eagles hold a narrow lead over the LG Twins, who trail by one game with a record of 23-14-0. The Twins, who started the season with a seven-game winning streak and extended their record to 20-7-0, have recently faltered, losing seven of their last ten games.
The Eagles’ nine-game winning streak is their first since June 2005, and they have not held the top position alone after at least 30 games into a season since June 2007. Prior to this streak, the Eagles had an eight-game winning run from April 13 to 23, followed by two losses before embarking on their current streak. Notably, they are the only KBO team this season with two winning streaks of at least eight games.
The Eagles’ success is largely attributed to their formidable starting rotation, which is the most dominant in the KBO this season. The five-man unit, consisting of Cody Ponce, Ryan Weiss, Ryu Hyun-jin, Um Sang-back, and Moon Dong-ju, has collectively achieved a league-best 20 wins. They lead in strikeouts with 220 and have allowed the fewest walks, totaling 59. Their opponents have been held to an OPS of .618, the lowest in the KBO.
With the starters effectively managing innings, the Eagles’ bullpen has recorded the fewest innings pitched this season, totaling 118. Despite their limited workload, the relievers have maintained the second-lowest opponents’ OPS of .676. The Eagles boast a flawless 19-0-0 record when leading after seven innings.
Ponce and Weiss are among the hardest-throwing starters, with Ponce leading all qualified starters with an average fastball velocity of 153.1 kilometers per hour. Closer Kim Seo-hyeon leads all relievers with an average fastball velocity of 154.2 kph, while rookie reliever Jeong Woo-joo ranks third at 151.6 kph.
Offensively, the Eagles’ performance is average, ranking around or below league averages in categories such as batting average, home runs, runs scored, and OPS. However, their hitters excel in crucial moments, posting a .244 batting average and a .693 OPS overall, ranking seventh in both categories. Against relief pitchers, they lead with a .298 batting average and an .858 OPS, and they have secured the most comeback wins in the league with 15.
The Eagles have a history of teasing their fans, with past winning streaks of eight and seven games in 2023 and 2024, respectively, but ending those seasons in ninth and eighth place. Nonetheless, their fans remain loyal, their dedication only matched by the team’s past struggles.
Armed with exceptional pitching and timely hitting, the 2025 Eagles could mark a turning point for the team.