Hanwha Eagles’ new foreign players Lion Healey (left) and Ryan Carpenter pose after arriving at Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 17th. Hanwha offer
Hanwha, which has been late in offseason work such as appointing a new manager and signing foreign players, is accelerating preparations for the 2021 spring camp.
Hanwha’s new foreign pitcher Ryan Carpenter and foreign hitter Lion Healey entered Korea through Incheon International Airport on the 17th. Another foreign pitcher of Hanwha, Nick Kingham, is scheduled to come to Korea early on the 18th.
Foreign coaches, coaches and players must enter Korea on the 17th in order to normally join the spring camp starting in Korea on the 1st of next month. That way, after two weeks of self-isolation, the camp schedule can be digested. Foreign players from other clubs take quite a while to enter the country, but Hanwha is quite fast. If you arrive in Kingham as scheduled, Hanwha will complete the entry process for three foreign players, the fastest among 10 clubs.
“I’m really looking forward to living in Korea because I only heard good stories about Korea. As a starting pitcher for Hanwha this year, I want to win as many games as possible. I want to advance to fall baseball and make fans proud of Hanwha.” said. Healey promised, “I’m so excited to come to Korea. I hope that Corona 19 will calm down quickly so that I can feel the fans’ heat and shouts at the baseball field. I will try to help the team in many ways.” They plan to self-isolate in a single-family house in Okcheon, North Chungcheong Province, and also exercise.
Hanwha, who stayed in the bottom of the list in 2020, was too late to move in the offseason to appoint coach Carlos Subero on November 27 last year. The preparation for the 2021 season was the slowest, except for Kiwoom, where the command tower is still vacant. Hanwha’s composition of foreign players was too late, raising concerns from fans.
However, since December, Hanwha has been accelerating. Coach Subero entered Korea with his family on the 11th and went into self-isolation at a hostel in Daejeon, and on the same day, chief coach Darrell Kennedy and Jose Rosa and pitching coach also entered the country. An official from Hanwha said, “The three foreign players will move to Geoje, Gyeongnam, the spring camp site on the 1st of next month and start training with their colleagues.”
However, hitting coach Johnny Washington, who had the latest contract among Hanwha foreign coaches, has not yet entered Korea due to administrative problems. The Washington coach is expected to arrive at the end of this month. Accordingly, Hanwha is expected to conduct training without a main batting coach at the beginning of the camp.
Reporter Kim Shik