*This content was translated by AI.
"(Wang Yencheng) has been told he's 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 team.
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-like symptoms, and further examinations led to a pneumonia diagnosis, resulting in his hospitalization.
At that time, a Hanwha official stated, "He is expected to be discharged once his condition improves and will return after skipping one turn in the starting rotation," but Wang Yencheng's health has improved, allowing him to return as scheduled.
Although he is scheduled to join the team on the 26th and travel with them, more time is needed before he can officially rejoin the first division roster. Wang Yencheng, who was placed on the injured list on the 19th, will be eligible for registration in the first division lineup after the 29th. Originally, after appearing against the KIA Tigers on the 18th, he was scheduled to pitch twice a week starting from the 23rd and return to the mound on the 29th; while he missed the game on the 23rd due to injury, it appears he will be able to take the mound in 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 draws, placing them in seventh position, 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 undoubtedly encouraging. Wang Yencheng, who joined Hanwha for just $100,000 (approximately 138 million won), has delivered standout performances among the starting pitchers this season, recording 10 wins and 5 losses with an ERA of 3.52 and 95 strikeouts over 23 games and 120⅓ innings, demonstrating remarkable consistency.
With Hanwha in urgent need of players, Moon Hyun-bin and Noh Si-hwan are set to depart for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya next mid-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 pitcher remains on the roster.
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*This content was translated by AI.
