▲ Noh Si-hwan of the Hanwha Eagles has been on a tear this May, and he credits a special accessory: his teammate Moon Dong-ju’s belt.
▲ Moon Dong-ju, who recently underwent shoulder surgery, provided the belt that Noh believes brings good luck.
[SPOTV NEWS=Gocheok, Reporter Park Seung-hwan] “(Moon) Dong-ju, watch this…”
Noh Si-hwan of the Hanwha Eagles started as the third baseman and fifth batter in the team’s third game of the season against the Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome on May 12. He went 3-for-6 with one home run, five RBIs, and one run scored in a dominant performance.
After signing an 11-year, 30.7 billion won extension with Hanwha last winter, Noh struggled early in the season. He failed to hit a single home run during spring training or the opening weeks of the regular season, leading to a stint in the minors to reset. Since returning, he has been a completely different player.
Noh’s bat has been scorching hot in May. After hitting just one home run through the end of April, he has already belted six in 10 games this month. In the May 12 game, he launched his seventh homer of the season in his first at-bat—a grand slam, the third of his career—and finished with three hits and five RBIs.
Recently, Noh has been celebrating his home runs with a belt ceremony, and there’s a special reason behind it: his concern for teammate Moon Dong-ju.
▲ Noh Si-hwan’s belt ceremony has become a signature move.
▲ Moon Dong-ju is recovering from shoulder surgery.
Moon Dong-ju started a game against the Samsung Lions on May 2 but was forced to leave the mound in the first inning due to shoulder pain. An examination revealed a torn labrum in his right shoulder, requiring surgery. Hoping for Moon’s speedy recovery, Noh began wearing Moon’s belt during games as a token of support.
After the game, Noh told reporters, “I’m going to do this ceremony every time I hit a home run. So Dong-ju can see it,” adding with a smile, “He told me he feels the belt brings good energy.”
He further explained, “This belt feels really good. It helps stabilize my waist, or maybe it’s just in my head, but I’m happy with it.”
Since adopting Moon’s belt, Noh’s bat has been on fire. He joked that if the belt breaks during a game, he’ll ask Moon to make a new one. When asked what would happen if the belt snaps, Noh said, “I’ll need him to custom-make one for me. Not me, but he has to make it himself and give it to me. That’s how the energy stays. He gave me this energy, and he feels proud and thankful.”
▲ Noh’s confidence has soared with his recent hot streak.
Noh’s confidence has surged as results have followed. “When I’m struggling, I lose confidence in the batter’s box. I overthink and can’t focus on the pitcher—I’m just fighting myself. But now, seeing everyone else hitting well, I’m riding the wave. I need to keep it going,” he emphasized.
The Hanwha Eagles have been on an upswing, winning three straight games for the first time this season after beating Kiwoom. Noh added, “We had a rough start last year too, but once you get the momentum, it picks up. Even with [Chae] Eun-seong hyung injured, when our other injured players return, the team will be stronger. If we hold out until they come back, we can make a push.”
