Seoul: Ha Ju-suk, the former No. 1 overall draft pick in South Korean baseball, has been traded by the Hanwha Eagles to the Kia Tigers. This transaction occurred shortly after the Eagles' 9-3 victory over the Tigers at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the trade involves the Eagles receiving reliever Lee Hyeong-beom in exchange for Ha. Ha, who was the top selection in the 2011 Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) draft, has faced challenges in his career, including injuries that limited him to playing over 100 games in only five seasons over a 15-year span. He departs the Eagles with a career batting average of .268, 53 home runs, and 373 RBIs over 997 games.

This season, Ha has participated in just 27 KBO games, achieving a .256 batting average with no home runs and six RBIs. In the minor league, he has shown improved performance, batting .327 with a home run and 12 RBIs in 32 appearances. The Kia Tigers are optimistic about Ha's ability to fill their shortstop position, especially given his versatility in fielding positions and experience.

The trade addresses the Tigers' need for a shortstop following the free agency departure of All-Star Park Chan-ho last winter. Meanwhile, the Eagles, who had a surplus of middle infielders, will benefit from the addition of Lee Hyeong-beom, an experienced reliever with a 3.00 ERA in 19 appearances this season, bolstering their bullpen depth.