'Returning to the Futures after six days,' Hanwha's No Si-hwan to rejoin the first team for next week's Jamsil LG game! "He must have felt manager-level stress" [Busan Field Report]

*This content was translated by AI.

Hanwha Eagles infielder No Si-hwan (26) is finally returning to the first team.

Hanwha manager Kim Kyung-mun announced on the 18th, ahead of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular-season away game against Lotte Giants at Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium, that "No Si-hwan is scheduled to rejoin the first team on the evening of Monday (20th) following the game. He plans to practice together on Tuesday and Wednesday (21st–22nd) and will be sent out on Thursday (23rd)".

The 21st–23rd dates mentioned by the manager refer to the away series against LG Twins at Jamsil. Ahead of this season, No Si-hwan signed an 11-year, 30.7 billion won non-exclusive free agent (NFA) multi-year contract with Hanwha. As the first contract in KBO history exceeding nine years and reaching the 30 billion won range, it was a fitting deal for a powerful left-handed hitter expected to lead the team for the next decade.

However, after the season began, No Si-hwan suffered severe slumps, posting a .145 batting average (8 hits in 55 at-bats), 3 RBIs, a .230 on-base percentage, a .164 slugging percentage, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.394 across 13 games.

In response, manager Kim Kyung-mun, who had previously promised No Si-hwan a spot as the cleanup hitter and third baseman until the end of last season despite concerns about his physical condition, decided to remove him from the first-team roster following the game on the 12th. This move was seen as highly significant given the manager's prior commitment.

Manager Kim stated, "It wasn't because No Si-hwan lacked ability that he was sent down. It was a mental issue. He is a player with strong responsibility, and since things weren't going well, he must have felt manager-level stress. That's why we wanted him to rest and feel a bit more at ease".

After being sent down to the Seosan Futures team, No Si-hwan did not play in any games for some time, raising concerns. Finally, after six days, he appeared as the leadoff hitter and designated hitter in a home game against Ulsan Whales in Seosan.

In the game where Hanwha won 13-3, No Si-hwan went 1-for-3 with 3 walks, 2 runs scored, and 1 strikeout in 5 plate appearances, regaining his hitting rhythm. Coincidentally, Hanwha had fallen into a six-game losing streak during his absence, making this news particularly welcome.

Manager Kim emphasized, "It's better to get a hit than not to get one. So the plan is for him to play in the Futures League until Monday's game, and starting tomorrow, he will also participate in defensive drills. Since there is no Futures game on Tuesday, he will travel with the first team. No Si-hwan needs to come in and stabilize the lineup so we can continue our winning streak".

On this day, Hanwha lined up with Lee Won-seok (center field), Jonathan Ferrara (right field), Moon Hyun-bin (left field), Kang Baek-ho (designated hitter), Chae Eun-seong (first base), Lee Do-yoon (second base), Kim Tae-yeon (third base), Choi Jae-hoon (catcher), and Sim Woo-jun (shortstop). The starting pitcher was Ryu Hyun-jin.

Lotte countered with Victor Reyes (left field), No Jin-hyeok (first base), Yoon Dong-hee (right field), Han Dong-hee (third base), Jeon Jun-woo (designated hitter), Son Ho-young (center field), Han Taeyang (second base), Son Sung-bin (catcher), and Jeon Min-jae (shortstop). The starting pitcher was Jeremy Wisely.

Manager Kim also expressed understanding regarding Ferrara, who had allowed the game to slip away due to an error in the Samsung Lions match two days prior in Daejeon. Kim stated, "Even the best defensive players make mistakes. Right now, we are not playing well, so even a single error looks big. But we are doing well overall".

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.