Ha Ju-seok bids farewell to Hanwha Eagles, joining KIA Tigers

Ha Ju-seok, a 32-year-old infielder, bid farewell to the Hanwha Eagles, the team he represented for 14 years, as he moves to the KIA Tigers. The trade, which also sent pitcher Lee Hyeong-beom to KIA, was announced on November 23.

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The time I spent with the Hanwha Eagles will remain as the most precious page in my baseball career for a long time.

In a social media post, Ha described his time with the Eagles as the "most precious page" of his baseball career. He thanked the fans for their unwavering support through both good and difficult times. Drafted first overall in 2012, Ha experienced a tumultuous career with the Eagles, becoming a key player from 2016 and serving as captain in 2021 and 2022.

However, his tenure was marked by controversy. In 2022, he was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct by throwing his helmet in the dugout after a disputed umpire call. Later that season, he caused a stir with a drunk driving incident. His position with the team also became less secure after the acquisition of fellow shortstop Shim Woo-jun in the free agency market following the 2024 season.

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Even as I write this, my heart is very complicated.

Ha, who re-signed with the Eagles for approximately 110 million won for one year, transitioned to second base last year and played in the Korean Series. However, he has not appeared in a first-team game since May 8 this year. His career statistics with the Eagles include a .268 batting average, 53 home runs, and 373 RBIs in 997 games. Notably, Ha, who married Hanwha cheerleader Kim Yeon-jeong in December, will now face his former team as an opponent.

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You laughed with me on good days and cheered me on warmly during difficult times.