Former Hanwha infielder turned coach hopes for historic reversal despite 0-2 deficit against LG Twins

[OSEN=Lee Sang-hak reporter] "Second place is also impressive, but I hope they don't give up. Baseball is unpredictable."

Song Kwang-min (42), a former infielder who spent 15 years exclusively with the Hanwha Eagles in the KBO League and is now a coach at Chungnam Middle School, visited the Korean Series for the first time in his life. Since June, Song, who also serves as a radio commentator for TJB Daejeon Broadcasting, encouraged his juniors who performed well this season and hoped they would not give up until the end to achieve a comeback victory in the Korean Series.

Song, as a player, never experienced the Korean Series. In 2006, when Hanwha finished as runners-up, he was a rookie not included in the roster. He reached the postseason in 2007 and 2018 but fell short in the playoffs and wild-card series, respectively. After retiring in 2020 without achieving a championship, Song, now a commentator, appeared overwhelmed by being at the Korean Series.

"I think the Hanwha players did really well this year. Thanks to them, I came to the Korean Series for the first time," Song said. "Finishing second is also a great achievement. They narrowed the gap to 5.5 games from LG in the final stretch of the season and chased the first-place spot until the end. Led by Manager Kim Kyung-moon, the coaching staff and players united to deliver strong results, and they have been doing enough so far."

However, Hanwha suffered complete defeats in Games 1 and 2 against LG. In Korean Series history, 21 teams started with two consecutive losses, but only two -- Samsung in 2013 and SK in 2007 -- managed a comeback. The probability is just 9.5%, and both of those teams were regular-season champions. No team that started with two losses as the second-place finisher has ever won the title.

Despite the objectively difficult situation, Song believed his juniors could seize the opportunity if they kept fighting until the end. "There will definitely be a chance to turn things around. While doing commentary this season, I saw the team's strength and energy. Of course, there is a power gap with LG, and their momentum has weakened, but short series are about atmosphere and flow. Baseball is unpredictable. As I coach student athletes, I realize even more that baseball is unpredictable. Although professional baseball is different, it's too early to give up," he said.

As Song mentioned, Hanwha showed explosive power this season with eight, 12, and 10 consecutive wins. Achieving two 10-game winning streaks in a single season is the second time in history after Samsung in 1985. In Games 3 and 4 at home in Daejeon, the "ace duo" Cody Ponce and Ryan Weiss are scheduled to start consecutively, leaving room for a comeback.

Song particularly noticed the desperation of the Hanwha players. Game 1 starter Moon Dong-ju, despite a drop in velocity from the playoffs, allowed four runs (three earned) but held on until the top of the fifth inning without collapsing. "The pitchers' fatigue is visible after the postseason games. Moon Dong-ju looked heavy, but he tried to hold on. With that kind of mindset, they can definitely do it," Song said.

He added, "Veterans like Son Ah-seop and Chae Eun-sung are also showing desperation. I hope Manager Kim Kyung-moon can finally lift the championship curse this time. After returning to the field after a long time, he led Hanwha to the Korean Series in 19 years with tenacious baseball, building a structured and detailed team. Even after two losses, it's definitely not the time to give up. I hope they push through to the end and fulfill the regrets of the seniors who couldn't win."

Meanwhile, after retiring as a player, Song ran a baseball-specific training center and has been coaching at Chungnam Middle School since this year. With the support of Director Jeong Kyung-hoon and the school, he has been gaining diverse experiences, including radio commentary for a local broadcaster since June. "Thanks to the director and the school, I'm doing commentary. I study by finding a lot of materials, which broadens my perspective on baseball," Song said. "Although I'm a commentator, I'm cheering for Hanwha as desperately as the players. I hope for a good result." /waw@osen.co.kr

Song Kwang-min Encourages Hanwha in Korean Series Comeback Bid