For the second straight Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season, the Hanwha Eagles' left-hander Kwon Hyuk finds himself on the fine line between dedication and overuse.

A year after leading all KBO relievers with a career-high 112 innings, the 14-year pro is at it again. He leads all relievers with 19 appearances, and is second with 23 2/3 innings out of the bullpen.

As he did last year, manager Kim Sung-keun, long notorious for working his pitchers into the ground, is using the left-hander in all situations imaginable, with the Eagles mired in last place at 9-22. Kwon has pitched on back-to-back days on three occasions -- including on three straight days from April 28-30.

The 32-year-old has struggled to a 1-1 record and a 4.94 ERA.

He has struck out 19 but walked 13. Yet speaking to Yonhap News Agency Wednesday, Kwon bristled at the notion that last year's workload is having any ill effects on the current season.

"If the results are there, then people say all the positive things," Kwon said. "But if I don't pitch well, then they say I am being overused. I've also heard that I am struggling this year because I pitched so much last year. I guess I just have to start performing better."

In 2015, no player better epitomized the desperate and ultimately futile playoff push by the Eagles, who'd spent years in the league cellar. Kim kept sending the left-hander into one crucial situation after another. He made 78 appearances and went 9-13 with 17 saves -- all of them career-highs -- while earning respect from fans and opponents alike for his work ethic.

And Kwon was visibly tired toward the end. He had a 4.01 ERA in

76 1/3 innings before the All-Star break, but 7.07 ERA in 35 2/3 innings after. He was tagged for 23 earned runs in 28 2/3 innings after August.

"I am feeling perfectly fine," Kwon insisted. "And the ability to pitch in consecutive games is really my strength."

Kwon had a solid outing Wednesday against the surging NC Dinos, helping the Eagles snap their five-game losing streak with a 6-5 win.

Kwon took the mound in the sixth and tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. In the personal highlight of the day, Kwon fanned reigning MVP Eric Tahmes with a 147 kilometer-per-hour fastball with two outs in the sixth and a man at second.

"Personally, this was the most satisfying outing of the season," he said. "I liked how the ball was coming off my hand. I studied videos of some of my better games and it helped."

 Kwon admitted losing so often so early in the season has taken its mental toll on him, but said he believes the Eagles will turn things around.

"We'll have our chances," he said. "And we'll overcome this situation." (Yonhap)