"To My Mother Who Woke Me Up Every Dawn"... Hanwha Eagles Rookies Take the Stage in Tears

[Financial News] "Thank you so much to my mother, who never missed a single day and always woke up before me to prepare breakfast when I got up for early morning training."
"Now that our son is stepping into society as a professional player, congratulations. I will always be cheering for you from behind."
On the afternoon of the 11th, at Daejeon Jung-gu Cultural Center, letters were read aloud on stage, each line trembling with emotion under the warm lights. The 2026 Hanwha Eagles rookie induction ceremony, titled 'Hello Future!', was held. The stars of the day were 14 new players who had just crossed the threshold into professional baseball.

It was an even more nerve-wracking moment than putting on their uniforms for the first time. The players dressed their parents in jerseys embroidered with their own names and expressed their deep gratitude in handwritten letters. As the parents listened, their eyes gradually filled with tears, and some quietly wiped them away with handkerchiefs. "Now our son has truly become a professional."
Baseball prospects and their families from all over the country, including Daejeon High School, Kongju High School, Raon High School, Yatap High School, and Yushin High School, along with team officials, filled the venue with about 170 attendees. The club arranged for three Hanwha Eagles team buses to transport the players and their families together from the ballpark to the event, fostering a sense of unity. At the entrance, banners introducing the 14 rookie players lined the way, and families proudly took commemorative photos in front of them.
Park Jong-tae, CEO of Hanwha Eagles, personally helped the rookies put on their uniforms on stage and stated, "Today, as you take your first step as professionals, the club will support you without limits so that one day you may stand on the Major League stage."
Park and Son Hyuk, General Manager of Hanwha Eagles, presented luxury pillows to the parents who had quietly supported their children's growth, saying, "Now, please enjoy a good night's sleep." It was a moment filled with both laughter and tears.

In the first part of the event, Attorney Minjeong Son led a sports ethics session, emphasizing the character and attitude required of professional athletes. The second part featured the official induction ceremony, and the third part included a tour of Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark.
After the event, the players and their families returned to the ballpark by team bus, where they toured the field, dugout, locker room, and indoor training facilities where they will sweat and strive in the future. The day concluded with a dinner featuring the same menu as the first-team players, marking the end of their first official event.
Jung Min-hyuk, Head of Scouting Team, remarked, "This event is not just an induction ceremony, but a moment for players to reflect on their beginnings and for parents to feel a sense of pride." He added, "For the second-year high school players who attended, it serves as motivation to one day stand on this stage themselves."
He continued, "We will continue to hold meaningful induction ceremonies so that the entire Hanwha Eagles family can feel a sense of belonging together."
Just like the slogan 'Hello Future!', the new faces of the Hanwha Eagles have now taken their first steps toward the future. From their parents' hands to the embrace of the club, their 'future' began today under the autumn sky of Daejeon.
jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter