한뉴픽

The professional baseball team Hanwha Eagles, based in Daejeon, has departed from its longtime home stadium, Hanwha Life Eagles Park. Beginning with the 2025 season, they are playing at the new Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark. Eagles Park, which has been a part of the team's history since 1986, has reached its 61st year of operation this year, making it the oldest stadium among the 10 KBO teams. However, with the completion of the new Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark this year, the team has transitioned to a new home. The grand opening ceremony took place on March 5, and they celebrated their KBO home opener against the Kia Tigers with a victory on March 28. Hanwha won two games in that series, demonstrating a strong performance in their new stadium against Kia, which was regarded as a championship contender.
The ballpark boasts an exotic design that has never been seen in our country before, generating excitement among fans even prior to its completion. The outfield fence features an angular shape with five sides, and the distances to the left and right poles vary. This asymmetrical layout creates unpredictable scenarios for players. A standout feature is the Monster Wall, which measures 32 meters wide and 8 meters high. Any home run hitter who fails to clear this 8-meter wall must settle for a single. Additionally, balls that strike the Monster Wall bounce off in unpredictable directions, significantly increasing the difficulty for the defense due to the varying impact points and angles of the hits. The ballpark also features the first-ever double-deck bullpen in Asia, located behind the Monster Wall. The lower level is designated for the home team, while the upper level accommodates the visiting team, allowing spectators to easily view players from both teams. The seating capacity has been expanded to 20,000, an increase of 8,000 from before, and the width of the seats has also been enhanced for greater comfort. Furthermore, a swimming pool has been added on the fourth level of the seating area. In this 1.5-meter deep swimming pool, located on the highest floor, spectators can swim and catch glimpses of the game with their own eyes.
There was a conflict regarding the naming rights of the Vole Park stadium. When the construction of the baseball stadium commenced, the city of Daejeon, which owns the stadium, initially named it 'Baseball Dream Park.' Later, Hanwha, which took over the stadium's operations through a contract with the city, renamed it 'Hanwha Life Baseball Park' as part of a naming sponsorship. However, the city of Daejeon argued that the stadium's name should include 'Daejeon,' resulting in differing views. Although there were some disagreements between the two parties, they eventually reached an agreement, and the stadium was named the current Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark.
  Hanwha has successfully made its mark in the new stadium. Last season concluded with disappointing outcomes, which contrasted with their strong start. However, this season, they are performing well, complementing their ballpark experience. As of the article's publication date, they have played 49 games, achieving 29 wins and 20 losses, which places them third in the standings. At one point, they even enjoyed a 12-game winning streak and were at the top of the league. Although they went through a rough patch with 2 wins and 7 losses in their next 9 games, they remain a strong contender, just 2.5 games behind first-place LG. Some fans are feeling anxious due to Hanwha's decline after last year's brief success, but this year's performance is notably different from past seasons. Specifically, pitchers such as Cody Ponce, Moon Dong-ju, and Kim Seo-hyeon instill strong confidence in fans. This season, ace Ponce achieved a remarkable milestone on May 17th against the SSG Landers, pitching 8 innings while allowing only 2 hits, 1 walk, and striking out 18 batters. He matched the KBO record for the most strikeouts in a single game, previously set by Hae-tae's Sun Dong-yeol in 1991 with 18 strikeouts over 13 innings. In terms of a standard 9-inning game, he surpassed Ryu Hyun-jin's 2010 record of 17 strikeouts (with Hanwha) and set a new benchmark. Additionally, he broke the record for the most strikeouts in a single game by a foreign pitcher, achieving 14 strikeouts.
  Hanwha has a strong local following, but their lackluster performance has resulted in a growing number of fans who approach each season with low expectations. Their last title dates back to 1999. However, this year marks a change. The team is moving on from their old stadium, which was a mix of happy and sad memories, and is embracing a new beginning in their new venue. This season, their performance has noticeably improved compared to previous years, leading to a rise in fan expectations. With these heightened hopes, the already enthusiastic support from fans has become even more fervent. Baseball enthusiasts are eagerly watching to see if the vibrant atmosphere at Daejeon Hanwha Life Eagles Park this summer will carry on into the fall.

Hwang Ho Rim/Reporter