Seoul: Roh Si-hwan, the surging slugger for the Hanwha Eagles, has credited his recent success to a boost in confidence. Despite previously struggling with confidence issues, even with a strong track record in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) that includes two 30-homer, 100-RBI seasons and a runner-up finish in MVP voting, Roh has found new vigor. Earlier this season, the 25-year-old managed only eight hits in his first 13 games, with no home runs and just three RBIs, leading to a temporary demotion to the minor league on April 13.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Roh made a significant comeback by hitting a home run in his first game back with the Eagles on April 23. Since the beginning of May, he has been on an impressive run, batting .364 in 10 games with six home runs and 15 RBIs, which are the highest totals in the KBO for the month. His remarkable performance continued Tuesday night when he hit his third career grand slam, contributing to the Eagles' 11-5 victory over the Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.
Roh emphasized the role of confidence in his current form, stating, "I think confidence has been the biggest factor for me." He explained that when he is not confident, he tends to overthink at the plate, which negatively impacts his performance. However, by focusing solely on the pitcher, he has managed to simplify his approach and improve his game.
In the KBO home run race, Roh has emerged as a notable contender with seven home runs, placing him tied for seventh and five behind leader Kim Do-yeong of the Kia Tigers. Despite this, Roh maintains that his focus is on making solid contact rather than aiming for home runs, expressing a desire to "keep my swing simple and drive the ball."
Roh's position in the lineup changed in May when he moved from the cleanup spot to the No. 5 spot, swapping places with Kang Baek-ho. This adjustment has proven beneficial, as Kang's impressive batting, coupled with frequent walks, has provided Roh ample RBI opportunities. Kang himself is batting .500 this month, with four three-hit games during his 10-game hitting streak.
The Eagles, however, have faced challenges this season, including injuries to key players like foreign starters Wilkel Hernandez and Owen White, and closer Kim Seo-hyeon's control issues. Despite these setbacks, Tuesday's victory marked a season-high three-game winning streak, improving their record to 17-20-0 and tying them with the Kia Tigers for sixth place.
Roh expressed optimism about the Eagles' future, highlighting their strong offensive performance over the past 10 games, during which they have scored 86 runs and hit 21 home runs. He believes that maintaining their current form will lead to a rise in the standings, asserting, "Honestly, I think we're playing well, and if we keep this up, we will be in a pretty good spot."