At the beginning of the season, the Hanwha Eagles, who fell to the bottom of the standings, made significant changes to their first-team roster, including removing veteran second baseman Ahn Chi-hong ahead of a new week.
On the 7th, with no games scheduled, the Hanwha Eagles excluded infielder Ahn Chi-hong, outfielder Lim Jong-chan, and rookie pitcher Kwon Min-kyu from the first-team roster.
The most notable player among the three is Ahn Chi-hong. In his second year of a 4+2 year, 7.2 billion won free agent contract, he has struggled through 10 games with a batting average of .063 (2 hits in 30 at-bats), 2 RBIs, and an On-base Plus Slugging (OPS) of .267, with a clutch hitting average of .167. On the 6th against the Daegu Samsung Lions, he recorded 0 hits in 3 at-bats and 1 strikeout; his batting average in 5 games in April was only .063.
A Hanwha official noted on the 7th to OSEN, "Ahn Chi-hong was removed from the first team for conditioning adjustments. There is no injury."
Alongside Ahn Chi-hong, Lim Jong-chan and Kwon Min-kyu will also have time for reassessment in Seosan. Lim Jong-chan, who was the right fielder on Hanwha's opening day roster this season, has a batting average of .136 (3 hits in 22 at-bats), with 1 home run, 1 RBI, and an OPS of .558 over 11 games, while Kwon Min-kyu, selected 12th in the 2nd round of the 2025 rookie draft by Hanwha, has struggled with an ERA of 8.44 through 5 games without a decision.
Hanwha plans to register new faces to the first-team roster ahead of their first matchup of the season against the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Stadium on the 8th.
The Lotte Giants, who suffered a losing series against Doosan at home over the weekend, also have removed three players: outfielder Yun Dong-hee, pitcher Park Jun-woo, and infielder Kang Seong-woo. Star outfielder Yun Dong-hee, like Ahn Chi-hong, has fallen into a slump, hitting .179 (7 hits in 39 at-bats), with 1 home run, 2 RBIs, and an OPS of .629, resulting in his exclusion from the first team. A Lotte official explained, "This removal is for rest and reassessment."
Doosan has sustained injuries. Lee Yu-chan, who collided with an opposing catcher during a base-running play in the previous day's game against Lotte, has been removed alongside Kim Min-hyuk. Lee Yu-chan felt pain in his left elbow and went to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a medial ligament injury. A Doosan official reported, "Lee Yu-chan will be in a splint for a week and will undergo a re-examination in three weeks."
In addition, the KT Wiz has removed outfielder Ahn Chi-young from the first team roster, while the Kiwoom Heroes have excluded outfielder Lee Hyung-jong and infielder Seo Yoo-shin.
The KBO League will kick off the week on the 8th with games in Daegu (SSG vs. Samsung), Suwon (NC vs. KT), Gocheok (LG vs. Kiwoom), Sajik (KIA vs. Lotte), and Jamsil (Hanwha vs. Doosan).
[OSEN]