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Eagles demote struggling reliever Kim Seo-hyeon to minor leagues

Published: 27 Apr. 2026, 21:42

Hanwha Eagles reliever Kim Seo-hyeon, left, reacts after retiring a batter for the Samsung Lions during the clubs’ KBO regular season game at Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark in Daejeon on April 14. [YONHAP]

The Hanwha Eagles on Monday demoted their slumping reliever Kim Seo-hyeon to the minor leagues.

Kim was removed from the active roster for the KBO club after pitching to a 9.00 ERA in eight innings across nine outings, while going 1-2 with just one save. Kim has walked a whopping 14 batters and hit two others, but has struck out just five.

A player sent to the minors must spend at least 10 days there.

The lowlight of Kim's fourth season came against the Samsung Lions on April 14, when the right-hander walked six of the 11 batters he faced and plunked another, while recording just three outs. In that game, the Eagles set a record for the most walks and hit-by-pitches issued by a team in a game with 18.

The Eagles removed him from the closer role after that game, with manager Kim Kyung-moon using the 21-year-old in early, low-leverage innings in hopes of rebuilding his confidence.

Kim Seo-hyeon responded by pitching three consecutive scoreless outings. But against the NC Dinos on Sunday, he gave up a free pass before serving up a go-ahead, two-run homer to pinch hitter An Joong-yeol in the top of the seventh inning, as the Eagles fell 5-3 at home in Daejeon.

Crowds pack the Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Songpa District, southern Seoul, on March 22. [YONHAP]

The Eagles have the worst bullpen ERA in the KBO this season with 6.57, and they have also allowed the highest opponent on-base plus slugging with .847.

Kim ranked second in the KBO last year with a career-high 33 saves and also topped the All-Star Game fan voting. However, he suffered some spectacular meltdowns late in the regular season and again during the postseason, as the Eagles lost to the LG Twins in the Korean Series.

Kim's problems carried over into this season, and manager Kim also faced criticism for sticking with the pitcher in critical spots despite some ugly outings.

In another notable demotion on Monday, the SSG Landers sent their veteran outfielder Kim Jae-hwan to the minors.

The 2018 regular-season MVP has been a shell of his former self in his first season with the Landers, batting just .110 (9-for-82) with two homers, 10 RBIs and 25 strikeouts in 24 games. The 37-year-old has the lowest batting average in the league this year among all qualified hitters.

Yonhap