Hanwha Eagles infielder Hah Joo-seok will don the KIA Tigers uniform.
According to a report from Yonhap News on July 23, the two teams announced in a press release that they have completed a player trade.
KIA stated, "Hah Joo-seok is a versatile player capable of playing second base and shortstop, and we expect his extensive first-team experience will contribute to our team's strength."
KIA highly values Hah's offensive capabilities, which led to the agreement on the trade.
Hah, a franchise player for Hanwha, recorded a batting average of .297 in 95 games during the 2025 season.
This season, he has struggled with a .256 average in 27 first-team games but has performed well in the Futures League, hitting .327 in 32 games.
Meanwhile, Hanwha selected Lee Hyung-beom to bolster their pitching staff.
The Eagles explained, "This trade was conducted to strengthen our bullpen and address redundancy in the infield positions."
Hanwha General Manager Son Hyuk stated, "Lee Hyung-beom is a veteran pitcher with closing experience, and recent data shows that his velocity and the movement of his two-seam fastball are impressive."
Lee, who joined KIA in 2024 after stints with the NC Dinos and Doosan Bears, has posted a 3.00 ERA in 19 games this year without a win or loss.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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