The Hanwha Eagles took six rookie players to the first spring camp in Melbourne, Australia, the most among the 10 clubs.

They include first-round pitcher Jung Woo-joo, Kwon Min-gyu, Park Bu-seong, catcher Han Ji-yoon, infielder Lee Seung-hyun, and outfielder Lee Min-jae. It is unusual for a large number of rookies from all positions to join the first-tier camp.

The six rookies who have been selected by the coaching staff are learning a lot by sweating along with the first-team players. They are developing their dream of debuting in the first-team by acquiring know-how not only from technical but also from seniors in various fields such as mental and mindset.

Most of the attention was paid to Jung Woo-joo, but some rookies made an impression on the coaching staff through actual matches. They are Kwon Min-gyu and Han Ji-yoon.메이저놀이터

The two stood out by participating in a practice match against the Australian national team that took place from Friday to Sunday. The second camp, which will take place in Okinawa, Japan, has raised expectations for their participation in the opening entry.

Kwon Min-gyu, who was nominated in the second round of the 2025 Rookie Draft (12th overall) and wore a Hanwha uniform, pitched perfectly against the Australian batting lineup, which is full of sluggers, making it hard to believe he is a rookie.

Kwon Min-gyu, who played in the match on Saturday, did not allow a single on-base hit during two ⅔ innings. His ball control, which impressed the coaching staff at the closing camp that he participated in in last November, shone in the game as well. His ball speed was up to 145 kilometers per hour through local broadcasting.

"A high school graduate throws a strike this well. He has unique ball control," said Kim Tae-kyun, the Hanwha Legend commentator who broadcast the game. There is a good chance that he will grow into a complete pitcher if he increases his speed through more systematic training in the future.

Han Ji-yoon, who has been recognized for his batting talent since high school despite being a catcher, showed a brilliant batting instinct against the Australian mound on the same day.

Han Ji-yoon, who entered the batter's box as a pinch hitter with one out and one on the first base in the ninth inning when the score was tying at 5-5, hit a timely hit that cut right-center in an unfavorable ball count. As Hanwha, which scored an additional point, won the game 6-5, Han Ji-yoon's hit became the final hit.

No matter how hard they practice, anyone who comes from behind to face a reversal in the ninth inning will be nervous. It is all the more so if they are rookie players. Han, however, swung the bat confidently and produced the best results.

The defense comes first for catchers, but it is even better if they are equipped with batting capabilities. It may be difficult to wear a catcher's mask because there are veteran catchers such as Choi Jae-hoon and Lee Jae-won right now, but if they have batting ability, they can be used as a substitute for scoring chances. There is nothing bad about it in terms of increasing the value of use. The appearance of an "offensive catcher" is also welcome from Hanwha's point of view.

The Hanwha team will return to Korea after completing its Australian camp on Wednesday, before departing for Okinawa, Japan, on Tuesday to hold its second spring camp. Hanwha's second camp, where many practice games will be held, will likely have fun watching rookie players.