'Pneumonia Exit' Hanwha Ace, AG Also Leaving... Joins Today (26th) "Much Improved" Worst Case Avoided

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

"(Wang Yencheng) has been told he is much improved. He will join us here (Incheon)."

It is a blessing in disguise. The Hanwha Eagles, who are in urgent need of reinforcements, are getting their ace back. Asian quota pitcher Wang Yencheng (25) is set to rejoin the first division squad.

Hanwha manager Kim Kyung-moon (68) shared news about Wang Yencheng on the 25th ahead of a visit game against the SSG Landers at the SSG Landers field in Incheon for the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

Wang Yencheng received medical treatment at a hospital on the 21st due to cold and flu symptoms, and further examinations led to a pneumonia diagnosis and hospitalization.

At that time, a Hanwha official stated, "He is expected to be discharged once his condition improves and will return after skipping one start in the rotation," but Wang Yencheng's health has improved, allowing him to return as scheduled.

The team plans for him to join and travel with them starting on the 26th, though more time is needed before he can officially rejoin the first division squad. Wang Yencheng, who was placed on the injured list on the 19th, will be eligible to be added to the first division roster after the 29th. Originally scheduled to pitch twice a week starting on the 23rd after his appearance against the KIA Tigers on the 18th and then return to the mound for an NC Dinos game on the 29th, he missed the game on the 23rd due to injury but is expected to be able to take the mound for the NC Dinos game on the 29th without further absence.

Having played 110 games, Hanwha holds a record of 49 wins, 58 losses, and 3 ties, placing them in seventh place, nine games behind fifth-place Doosan Bears. While it is realistically difficult to overturn the standings in the remaining 34 games, they cannot afford to give up.

In this context, minimizing Wang Yencheng's absence is certainly encouraging. Wang Yencheng, who joined Hanwha for just $100,000 (approximately 138 million won), has pitched in 23 games and logged 120⅓ innings this season, recording 10 wins, 5 losses, an ERA of 3.52, and 95 strikeouts. Considering his consistency, he has delivered the most standout performance among the starting pitchers.

With Hanwha in urgent need of reinforcements, Moon Hyun-bin and Noh Si-hwan are set to depart for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya next month, and Wang Yencheng will also leave to join the Taiwan national team.

He is expected to leave the team three times for the Asian Games and may participate in up to three additional games in the future. To keep alive the last hope of autumn baseball, the team must secure as many wins as possible while their leading winner remains on the roster.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original