While 2023 was the year of Moon Dong-ju (22) of the Hanwha Eagles who won the Rookie of the Year award, last year was the season of Kim Do-young (22) who led the KIA Tigers to the overall championship and became the MVP of the regular season. In 2024, Moon failed to complete the season due to an injury to his right shoulder.스포츠토토
Is this the end of the rivalry game chosen by fans? Moon raised Kim Do-young's hand, saying, "Isn't it obvious from the difference in annual salary?" He also called her "brother" rather than a friend. In his fourth year, however, evaluation could be reversed again, as he has done so far. "Now, I have to do well," Moon said, clenching his lips.
The two players have been constantly compared even before joining the team. Among the two players of the same age from Gwangju, Kia has drawn keen attention to who will be selected in the first round of the 2022 Rookie Draft. After Kim Do-young and Moon Dong-ju joined the Hanwha Eagles, they competed for the Rookie of the Year award. Both players failed to show remarkable performances in 2022. In 2023, Moon Dong-ju won the Rookie of the Year award with eight wins and eight losses and an ERA of 3.72 in 23 games.
Last year, Kim Do-young hit back. In 141 games, Moon ranked third in batting average (0.347), third in hits (189), second in homers (38), first in runs scored (143), on-base percentage (0.420) and first in OPS (1.067) combined. Moon only had seven wins and seven losses and ERA of 5.17 in 21 games.
The gap in annual salary also widened. Kim Do-young's annual salary this year is 500 million won, up 400 million won from last year. Moon renewed his contract for 100 million won, the same as last year.
Moon Dong-joo, who met at Ball Park in Melbourne, Australia on the 9th, said, "The salary difference is five times," and added, "I think the situation between me and Do-yeong is exactly what the salary looks like. Doyoung is a player who peaked in the KBO League, and I haven't shown anything yet."
However, Moon made his friend and rival his motivation. "I will try to narrow the salary gap with DOYOUNG," he said. "I think he will be at the top again this year. I have to do well now. I want to help him win the KBO league."
While Moon had an ERA of 6.92 (3-1) in 13 games in the first half of last year, he rebounded with ERA of 2.60 (4-1) in eight games in the second half. His fastballs reaching the mid-150km/h also revived. In the game against the Doosan Bears on Sept. 3, his last game, he allowed one run and eight strikeouts in six innings. "I remember throwing well at the end of the second half. I am not worried about his poor performance last year," he said.
Moon threw 25 fastballs at his third bullpen session in the spring camp on Tuesday. It feels like he has completely washed away his shoulder pain. "I was happy (just because Moon started throwing) during the first bullpen session. I started to feel relieved after watching him throw the ball," Hanwha pitching coach Yang Sang-moon said.
Hanwha will form the first to fourth starters this season, consisting of Ryu Hyun-jin, Cody Ponce, Ryan Weiss, and Um Sang-baek. If Moon Dong-ju joins the team, it will build the strongest starting lineup in the league. "I want to play this season without getting sick. If I don't get hurt, I will be able to show good performance," he said.