Daejeon: The Hanwha Eagles, currently the leading team in South Korean baseball, have embarked on an impressive streak, remaining undefeated since the start of May.
According to Yonhap News Agency, following their sweep of the Kiwoom Heroes in a recent three-game weekend series, the Eagles have extended their winning streak to 12 games. This remarkable run is their longest since May 1992, when they achieved 14 consecutive victories. The team is now set for a six-game homestand in Daejeon, approximately 140 kilometers south of Seoul, where they aim to break their franchise record.
The Eagles, boasting a record of 27-13-0, are leading the 10-team Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), sitting a game ahead of the LG Twins (26-14-0). They will commence their homestand with a three-game series against the Doosan Bears starting Tuesday, followed by another three-game series against the SSG Landers from Friday to Sunday at the Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark.
The Eagles' success has been largely attributed to their outstanding starting pitching, with top starters Cody Ponce and Ryan Weiss delivering exceptional performances over the weekend. Ponce allowed just a run on three hits over six innings in a 9-1 victory on Saturday, while Weiss dominated with eight scoreless innings, yielding only one hit in an 8-0 win on Sunday. Additionally, former major league ERA champion Ryu Hyun-jin, who is currently 4-1 with a 2.91 ERA this season, is expected to start Tuesday's game.
As the Eagles prepare to host the Bears, the Landers will return home, having recently secured a series win against the defending champions Kia Tigers. Landers' slugger Choi Jeong is on the brink of making KBO history, needing just one more home run to become the first player to hit 500. Choi hit his 499th home run on Saturday but went 0-for-6 with three walks in Sunday's doubleheader.
The Landers will play at home from Tuesday to Thursday, hosting the NC Dinos before hitting the road. In anticipation of Choi's historic home run, fans in the left-field bleachers have been eagerly awaiting his every at-bat. The Landers have announced a generous offer for the fan who catches the milestone ball, including gifts valued at 17 million won (US$12,200), season tickets, gift certificates, and an invitation to a luxury box for a Landers game.
As the week begins, only the top three teams-the Eagles, the Twins, and the Lotte Giants (24-16-2)-maintain a winning percentage above .500. The NC Dinos have climbed from ninth to fourth place following a seven-game winning streak, despite being on the road since their home stadium, Changwon NC Park, closed due to a tragic incident on March 29. Meanwhile, the Samsung Lions have suffered a season-worst eight-game losing streak but remain in fifth place at 19-21-1. The KT Wiz and the Landers are tied for sixth place, each with 18-20-3 and 18-20-1 records, respectively. The injury-hit Tigers continue to struggle, falling to 17-21-0 after Sunday's losses to the Landers.