'Why it had to be' Ryu Hyun-jin's injury back then, 'glenoid labrum tear': Moon Dong-ju eventually undergoes surgery... Hanwha's starting rotation left with only 'Ryu-Wang'

*This content was translated by AI.

Everyone knew it would be difficult to rebuild a top-tier starting rotation featuring Cody Ponce (Toronto) and Ryan Weiss (Houston). However, no one expected it to fall apart so completely.

Hanwha Eagles announced on the 4th afternoon that "Moon Dong-ju (23) underwent diagnosis at two different hospitals on the 3rd and 4th," and "as a result, he was advised to undergo surgery due to damage to his right shoulder glenoid labrum."

Moon Dong-ju started against the Samsung Lions on the 2nd, throwing only 15 pitches over 2/3 innings before voluntarily exiting. He retired Choi Hyung-woo with a fly ball to center field with one out and a runner on second, but afterward felt pain in his shoulder, signaled for a substitution from the bench, and left the mound.

Ahead of an away game against the Samsung Lions at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 3rd, Hanwha removed Moon Dong-ju from the first-division roster and called up high school rookie pitcher Kang Geon-woo.

After undergoing examinations, he ultimately ended up on the operating table. Hanwha stated, "In addition, we have also requested a review from the renowned Zov Clinic in the United States, which is a top authority in this field," and added, "We plan to formulate future surgery and rehabilitation plans based on these results."

Concerns are growing as the shoulder, which had shown persistent problems, has developed issues again. Moon Dong-ju, who signed with Hanwha in 2022 as the first-round draft pick for a signing bonus of 500 million won, played in only 13 games during his debut season amid injuries including a partial tear of the right shoulder subscapularis muscle.

He returned the following year, pitching 118 2/3 innings with an 8-8 record and an ERA of 3.72, achieving Shin In-sang-eul (수상), but in 2024, fatigue accumulated in his shoulder, resulting in a disappointing ERA of 5.17.

Although the injury setback was prolonged and season preparations were delayed, Moon Dong-ju secured his first career double-digit win total (11 wins) last year and participated in the Korean Series for the first time in 19 years. Moon Dong-ju, who pitched an additional 11 1/3 innings in the playoffs and Korean Series, had been preparing to participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) but ultimately fell short due to shoulder problems.

At the time, Moon Dong-ju complained of simple shoulder inflammation, and he subsequently pitched normally in spring training games as well, recording an ERA of 5.18, a batting average against of 0.281, and an innings per baserunner allowed (WHIP) of 1.56 over 6 games and 24 1/3 innings. He managed only one quality start (six or more innings pitched by a starter with three or fewer earned runs allowed).

There was hope that if his condition recovered, his performance would return to its proper level, but the pain ultimately recurred, and he ended up on the operating table once again.

This is the same injury site that Ryu Hyun-jin (39), who is also Moon Dong-ju's role model, suffered while playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers. While a significant amount of time will be needed for rehabilitation, an even bigger question is whether he can return to his pre-surgery condition.

When Ryu Hyun-jin injured his shoulder glenoid labrum and underwent surgery in 2015, numerous local media outlets predicted that it would be difficult for him to regain his former skills. In fact, unlike elbow ligament reconstruction surgery, which has become all too common now, successful comebacks from glenoid labrum surgery are rare. The shoulder has a far more complex structure, entangled with more muscles and ligaments, and particularly, many pitchers have experienced issues with velocity reduction. Since Moon Dong-ju's greatest strength is his fastball, concerns are inevitably greater.

Ironically, hope is being found in Ryu Hyun-jin. He is one of the few successful cases of shoulder glenoid labrum surgery in the baseball world. After losing an entire season following surgery, Ryu Hyun-jin underwent elbow arthroscopic surgery the following year and endured a difficult period when his left adductor muscle tore in 2018, but in 2019, he achieved a remarkable feat by leading the entire Major Leagues with a 14-5 record and a 2.32 ERA.

After spending four more years with Toronto, Ryu Hyun-jin returned to Hanwha and continues to serve as the team's ace even as he approaches his 40s.

Moon Dong-ju is still only in his mid-20s, so there is no need to be discouraged. He can also receive direct, practical advice from his "surgery senior," Ryu Hyun-jin.

However, for Hanwha, which must play more than 100 games, a bleak reality with no visible future has emerged. With the start of the season, Owen White suffered a thigh injury, leading to the temporary acquisition of foreign pitcher Jack Cushing as a replacement. Will Hernandez also felt discomfort in his elbow after the Samsung game on the 1st; while an MRI examination ruled out a major injury, he was diagnosed with minor inflammation and removed from the first-division roster.

Cushing is currently serving as the closer, and the starting rotation is being held together by only Ryu Hyun-jin and Wang Yencheng. Hwang Jun-seo, who has starting experience, was notified of a move to the minor league on the 30th of last month, and his return to the first division is possible from the 10th. A dark cloud looms over Hanwha, which reached the Korean Series last year thanks to the strength of its pitching mound.

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*This content was translated by AI.