'Hanwha's Most Wins and Innings: Wang Yencheng Returns on the 3rd, "My Condition Is Fully Fine"... Will He Ignite the Final Spark Against AG? [Suwon Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

Wang Yencheng (25), who has delivered the most outstanding performance among the starting pitchers despite joining for just $100,000 (approximately 136 million won), is finally set to return to the rotation.

Kim Kyung-moon (68), manager of the Hanwha Eagles, met with reporters ahead of the visiting game against KT Wiz at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 2nd, stating, "He will pitch tomorrow (the 3rd)," and added, "His condition is fully fine. We gave him enough time until he said he was ready."

Although Wang Yencheng joined under the Asia quota, he remains the team's only pitcher with 10 wins (5 losses) and has logged the most innings (120⅓). His ERA of 3.52 is the second-lowest among starting pitchers, trailing only Owen White (3.41).

Wang Yencheng has consistently held his spot in the rotation without skipping turns, delivering standout performances among Asia quota players. With predictions suggesting it will be difficult to retain him as an Asia quota player next season, some voices are even calling for him to be signed as a foreign player instead.

However, he recently skipped a turn in the rotation. After pitching five innings and allowing three runs against KIA on the 18th, he suffered from pneumonia severe enough to require hospitalization. Listed on the injured list since the 10th, he could have returned to the first-division roster as early as the 29th of last month but was kept out of the rotation twice due to concerns about his incomplete recovery.

He will finally return in the game against KT on the 3rd. Although Bruce Zimmermann is scheduled to pitch according to the rotation, Wang Yencheng is planned to take his place instead.

Zimmermann joined as a replacement for Wilkel Hernandez but has continued with poor pitching performances, causing disappointment. Manager Kim had previously indicated plans to use Zimmermann not as a starter but as a relief pitcher.

For Wang Yencheng, this represents one of his few remaining chances to start. He is scheduled to join the Taiwan national team for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan starting on the 19th of next month. While no specific departure date has been announced yet, it appears he will have at most two more opportunities to start before joining the national team.

Although reaching the autumn playoffs is now virtually out of reach, Wang Yencheng's contribution remains crucial to prevent Hanwha from slipping further down to ninth place.

The immediate priority is to break their seven-game losing streak. Today, Hanwha set its starting lineup with Choi In-ho (center fielder), Yonatan Peraza (right fielder), Moon Hyun-bin (left fielder), Kang Baek-ho (designated hitter), Noh Si-hwan (third baseman), Kim Tae-yeon (first baseman), Heo In-seo (catcher), Hwang Young-mok (second baseman), and Sim Woo-jun (shortstop). Ryu Hyun-jin, who has not recorded a win in nine games since his six-inning, one-run performance against KIA on June 11, will take the mound as the starting pitcher.

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*This content was translated by AI.