SPOTVNews — Kim Tae-woo: Hanwha manager Kim Kyung-moon, who was overseeing the team's first training camp in Melbourne, Australia, took a call from Korea on the evening of Feb. 5. The caller was veteran outfielder Son Ah-seop (38), who had just finalized a free-agent deal. Son apologized for the late signing, updated Kim on his condition, and received encouragement from the manager.
Kim did not bring Son directly to the first-team camp in Australia. Instead, he sent him to train in Kochi, Japan, where the second-team camp was underway. It wasn’t a slight — it was deliberate. No matter how hard Son trained on his own, he couldn't match the tempo of players who had spent more than 10 days training together in warm weather. Kim wanted to avoid Son overextending himself trying to catch up and preferred he rebuild gradually with the second team, trusting the veteran to get himself ready.
Kim made one promise: after the second camp concluded, he would bring Son back to Korea ahead of the exhibition games and give him a shot at the opening roster. He kept that promise, calling Son up as soon as the team returned and using preseason tune-ups to evaluate his condition.
Son arrived as a free agent but accepted a one-year deal worth 100 million KRW (about $66,000) and dug in. He hit .385 in seven exhibition games and earned a spot on the opening roster. Still, after the two-game opening series, he was removed from the first-team roster on the 30th. Observers say it was a roster-driven decision: there were needs to address, but none that matched Son’s role.
Hanwha’s outfield and designated-hitter setup has largely taken shape: Moon Hyun-bin is in left, Yonathan Peraza in right, and Kang Baek-ho — the four-year, 10 billion KRW signing (about $6,600,000) — occupies the designated hitter spot. That left little room for Son. Rookie center fielder Oh Jae-won’s strong opening-series performance also removed the option of shifting Moon to center. Son was effectively reduced to a left-handed pinch-hitter option. At the same time, the pitching staff carried just 11 arms. To add starters next week, the club needed to clear roster space, and someone had to be optioned. Son was the one who fit that calculation.
In the opening series Son had one plate appearance and failed to reach. Given the current roster construction, a stint in the second team could benefit him. There’s no obvious role for him on the first team right now, no injuries forcing changes, and the season is proceeding as planned. Regular at-bats in the second team would help him maintain timing and stay ready.
Over a long season, situations shift — injuries and slumps are inevitable, and players who seize those moments often work their way into starting roles. Kim believes Son still has competitive value at the plate and in the chess match against pitchers. If a spot opens later, Son could be among the first players considered for a call-up. He’ll need to perform as the top candidate in the second team and wait for the right timing. For now, there’s no definitive return date to the first team.
Son is the KBO’s all-time hits leader with 2,618 hits. If the league ever produces a 3,000-hit player, Son remains one of the likeliest candidates. Whether his march toward 3,000 hits resumes soon is uncertain — the wait could be short or long.
On the 30th, a day without games, three more players were optioned to the second team alongside Son. NC removed outfielder Kwon Hee-dong and pitcher Son Joo-hwan from its first-team roster. Kwon started the season opener on the 28th in Changwon against Doosan and helped the win with one hit in two at-bats, two walks and two runs. He started again on the 29th but felt flank pain after his first plate appearance and was replaced. He underwent hospital testing, and while results are pending, he was left off the first-team roster. The club appears to have judged that a one- or two-day rest wouldn’t be sufficient for a quick return.
Son Joo-hwan struggled in the March 29 game in Changwon, working one-third of an inning and allowing two hits (one a homer), a walk and two runs. He was optioned to the second team to work on his form.
SSG also sent left-hander Kim Taek-hyung to the second team. Once the club’s closer, Kim fought his way back to the first team midseason last year and pitched effectively. He made the opening roster again this year and served as the pitching leader, but he was shaky in the March 29 game in Incheon against KIA: two-thirds of an inning, one home run allowed, two walks and three runs. He faltered after two outs and experienced a muscle cramp in his left thumb, forcing the team to pull him before the inning ended.
