Hanwha Eagles pitcher Moon Dong-Ju, recently named to the preliminary 30-man roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) Korean national team, now risks missing the final squad due to an elbow injury sustained during recent training.
Injury Timeline and Team Response
Hanwha officials announced that Moon Dong-Ju returned temporarily from Australia on February 6 for an elbow evaluation. He underwent surgery on February 7 and plans to rejoin the team in Melbourne for spring camp on February 8.
The injury hampered Moon’s performance in a recent exhibition series against the Doosan Bears. Despite selection for the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games roster, his condition deteriorated, preventing full participation.
Director Ryu Ji-Hyun Addresses Concerns
Ryu Ji-Hyun, Hanwha Eagles director, detailed the issue: “From January 30, Moon’s condition wasn’t improving, and he couldn’t complete bullpen sessions. After clearing on January 1, he struggled again by the 4th, with catchers noting poor form. Even extending Games 1 and 2, symptoms worsened by January 30.”
Ryu added that comprehensive factors, including training regimens, catch bullpens, and individualized weight programs, made achieving proper bullpen work challenging. “The team expects a solid bullpen from him for the WBC based on these evaluations,” he stated.
The sudden injury has created a power gap for Hanwha. Ryu emphasized Moon’s growing sharpness in KBO League games and proper bullpen progress, positioning him as a key asset for WBC Round 1. “If Moon doesn’t recover swiftly, the team must regain full strength,” Ryu noted.
