Ryu Hyun-jin (37) of the Hanwha Eagles and Yasiel Puig (34) of the Kiwoom Heroes will meet in Korea next year. The showdown between the two players is expected to be the best box office card in the KBO League in 2025. 메이저놀이터

Kiwoom announced the return of Cuban outfielder Puig on the 26th by announcing the recruitment of three foreign players. Puig, who played for Kiwoom for one year in 2022, returned to the Korean stage after three years, signing a full $1 million guarantee. 

With Puig's return, baseball fans are looking forward to a showdown with Ryu. The two players have different nationalities, and although they can't communicate, they have special relationships. They debuted in the Major League in 2013 while wearing the Dodgers' uniform. Ryu Hyun-jin was the main starter for the Dodgers, and Puig was the center hitter. Before Puig was traded to the Cincinnati Reds after the 2018 season, they had an unforgettable memory for six years. 

Puig was once shunned by Dodgers teammates after being called a "bad boy" due to his personality like a rugby ball and work problems. However, he had good chemistry with Ryu. They were best friends when they ate outside the stadium. Their friendly and sometimes playful actions drew laughter from fans. 

Puig, whose major league career ended in 2019, came to Korea after signing a contract with Kiwoom in 2022. There were concerns about Puig's bad behavior, but Ryu Hyun-jin said, "We need a strong player like Puig. I hope he doesn't change his style. He is a good player." 

Ryu Hyun-jin, a member of the Toronto Blue Jays at the time, trained with his former team Hanwha during the spring camp due to the closure of his Major League job, and even had a surprise encounter with Puig who came to Daejeon for a practice game. Ryu met Puig on the evening before the game on March 4, offering him Korean beef, giving him encouragement and advice. "Ryu told me not to get hurt and to have a healthy experience. He also advised me that pioneering is important," Puig said. 

Just as Ryu expected, Puig successfully settled in the KBO League in 2022 as he said, "I will do well if I adapt." He played a batting average of 277 (31 hits in 473 times at bat) in 126 games, 21 homers, 73 RBIs, and OPS.841. He played the central hitter role after going through the adaptation period early in the season, leading Kiwoom to the runner-up position in the Korean Series. 

He seemed likely to renew his contract, but an unexpected incident broke out after the season. He was investigated by a U.S. federal agency for illegal sports gambling and perjury when he was in the U.S. in 2019. Puig pleaded not guilty, but was embroiled in a legal dispute. As a result, his contract with Kiwoom failed. However, Puig continued his career in Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico, and Kiwoom also re-entered the company after confirming that he had no legal problems. 

Meanwhile, Ryu Hyun-jin returned to Korea after finishing his Major League career. He returned to the KBO League after receiving the highest treatment of 17 billion won (approx. He did not display performance like he did in his heyday, but he still displayed competitive edge as the first starter of the Hanwha Eagles. Puig is also valued to the extent that he was guaranteed 1 million dollars even though his heyday has passed. 

The two players had one showdown in the Major League Baseball. Ryu Hyun-jin faced Puig, the fourth batter, as a starter in an away game against Cincinnati on May 20, 2019, when he was a member of the Dodgers. 

The result was a complete victory with no hits in three times at bat. With runners on the first and second bases with one out in the first inning, Ryu managed to overcome the crisis with a double play by inducing Puig to ground out in front of the second baseman. He grounded out to shortstop in the fourth inning and a grounder to the pitcher in the sixth inning. Puig, who was blocked from hitting, caught Ryu by defense. With the bases loaded with two outs in the sixth inning, Ryu's foul ball heading to the right-handed stands was chased and ruled out. 

Six years later, the two players have become enemies in Korea. Although next year's regular season schedule has not been announced yet, Hanwha and Kiwoom are scheduled to face off 16 times. A rematch between the two players will take place at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul and Daejeon New Stadium.