The 2025 KBO League was filled with intense competition between the LG Twins and the Hanwha Eagles. The two teams, which finished first and second in the regular season and faced off in the Korean Series, gave baseball fans an unforgettable spectacle. As of October 31, 2025, the Korean Series is led by the LG Twins with 3 wins and 1 loss, putting them one step closer to the championship. What kind of season did the two teams have, how did the key players perform, and how are they preparing for the upcoming 2026 season? This article analyzes the 2025 season of LG and Hanwha in detail and looks at their future.
The LG Twins finished in first place in the 2025 regular season with a record of 85 wins, 3 ties, and 56 losses, with a winning percentage of 0.603. This is their first regular season championship in two years since 2023, and their fourth regular season title in team history. The team showed better form than their historic start in 1994, but they faltered briefly due to the injury of foreign pitcher Hernandez and the slump of the batting lineup. However, they climbed back up based on their strong performance, and in particular, they succeeded in producing four 10-win starting pitchers in September, for the first time in 31 years, demonstrating the strength of their pitching staff. In the Korean Series, they are ahead of the Hanwha Eagles with 3 wins and 1 loss, needing only one more win to achieve the integrated championship.
The LG pitching staff built the league's strongest starting rotation, with four pitchers, namely Yony Chirinos, Im Chan-kyu, Son Ju-young, and Song Seung-gi, recording 10 or more wins. In particular, foreign pitcher Anders Tolhurst, who joined mid-season, performed well with 5 wins and an ERA of 2.84 in 7 games, and he led the victory in Game 1 of the Korean Series with 6 innings and 2 earned runs. In the batting lineup, Kim Hyun-soo showed his veteran qualities by hitting a go-ahead timely hit in the 9th inning of Game 4 of the Korean Series, and Park Hae-min showed great performance in both offense and defense by hitting a solo home run and making a great defensive play in Game 1 of the Korean Series. Although Austin Dean, who performed brilliantly in the regular season with a batting average of 0.313, 31 home runs, and 95 RBIs, struggled somewhat in the Korean Series, he showed signs of recovery by recording his first hit in the final stages of Game 4.
The Hanwha Eagles finished in second place in the 2025 regular season with a record of 83 wins, 4 ties, and 57 losses, with a winning percentage of 0.593, and advanced to the postseason for the first time in 7 years since 2018. In particular, they showed a strong upward trend by securing a direct playoff spot for the first time in 18 years since 2007. Hanwha, which moved its home stadium to Daejeon Hanwha Life Eagles Park and attempted changes with a new BI and uniform, ignited the competition for the top ranks after mid-season due to the stability of the starting rotation and improved defensive efficiency. They advanced to the Korean Series for the first time in 19 years by defeating Samsung in the playoffs, bringing great joy to the fans. In particular, their home winning percentage was 0.620, the highest in the league, and they showed a strong performance against LG, with a winning percentage of 85.7% at home.
In the Hanwha pitching staff, young ace Moon Dong-ju showed outstanding performance, being selected as the playoff MVP, and also pitched as the starting pitcher in Game 1 of the Korean Series. Veteran Ryu Hyun-jin showed his continued strength by recording an ERA of 0.00 in the early part of the season, and he expressed his will to go all-out by also announcing his bullpen appearance in Game 5 of the Korean Series. Foreign pitcher Ryan Weiss, who successfully re-signed, also showed good form in the early part of the season and started in Game 4 of the Korean Series. In the batting lineup, No Si-hwan, Chae Eun-seong, and Moon Hyun-bin were among the top home run hitters in the early part of the season, leading the team's offense. Foreign batter Esteban Floreal was evaluated as a player who played an important role in the team's performance, but he showed a somewhat disappointing performance in the Korean Series, like LG's Austin.
If the LG Twins win the integrated championship in the 2025 season, they will lay the groundwork for building a dynasty in the 2026 season. With the management of the military enlistment of young prospects and the return of key pitchers such as Lee Jung-yong, Kim Yun-sik, and Lee Min-ho, they are expected to maintain a strong team in the 2026 season. However, some opinions say that they may have difficulties adapting to a hitter-friendly league if they only strengthen the pitching staff without reinforcing their batting lineup. The Hanwha Eagles have created an opportunity to grow one step further through the valuable experience of reaching the Korean Series for the first time in 19 years. As the team's young players are showing remarkable growth, they are preparing for the future by recruiting many promising players, including outfielder Oh Jae-won, in the 2026 rookie draft. However, the underperformance of the 2025 FA recruits and the consistent performance of the foreign batter will be important variables in the 2026 season's performance.
The 2025 KBO League was heated up by the LG Twins' regular season championship and the Hanwha Eagles' dramatic Korean Series advancement. Both teams had impressive seasons with excellent performances and the passionate support of their fans. LG is on the verge of winning the championship with a solid pitching staff and a well-organized batting lineup, and Hanwha has shown the face of a strong team based on the youthful passion and overwhelming support of their home fans. It is worth noting how the two teams will excite the fans again in the 2026 season. You can find more information on the KBO League official website: KBO Official Website
Q1: Who is the regular season champion of the 2025 KBO League?
* A1: The regular season champion of the 2025 KBO League is the LG Twins.
Q2: How many years had it been since the Hanwha Eagles advanced to the Korean Series in 2025?
* A2: The Hanwha Eagles advanced to the Korean Series for the first time in 19 years since 2006.
Q3: Who was the key pitcher for the LG Twins in the 2025 season?
* A3: Yony Chirinos, Im Chan-kyu, Son Ju-young, and Song Seung-gi played key roles by recording 10 or more wins, and Anders Tolhurst, who joined mid-season, also performed well.
Q4: How many games were played in the 2025 Korean Series?
* A4: The 2025 Korean Series is scheduled to have Game 5 on October 31, with the LG Twins leading with 3 wins and 1 loss.
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