The news of the injury to the Hanwha Eagles’ core battery was a direct blow not only to the team, but also to the World Baseball Classic (WBC) national team. With the successive failures of Dong-ju Moon (23) and Jae-hoon Choi (37), the national team’s plan to form elite members went awry from the start.
Hanwha reported on the 8th, “Choi Jae-hoon was hit by a ball on his right hand while receiving a home throw during morning defensive training.” As a result of an examination at a local hospital, it was determined that the 4th finger on the right was fractured and that it would take 3 to 4 weeks to recover.
Jaehoon Choi is included in the final entry for the 2026 WBC national team to be held in March. However, due to this injury, participation in the competition became uncertain.
Prior to this, ‘key pitcher’ Moon Dong-joo was completely excluded from the final entry announcement due to a shoulder injury. Moon Dong-ju, who complained of shoulder pain at the Hanwha camp on the 30th of last month, tried to throw a bullpen on the 4th, but the pain worsened and he was ultimately unable to participate in the tournament.
Fortunately, Moon Dong-ju was diagnosed with simple inflammation as a result of a hospital examination on the 8th, but he was unable to join the national team because he needed rest.
Moon Dong-ju, who throws the ball up to 161km, is a key member of the national team’s starting lineup, and Choi Jae-hoon is a player who will play an important role in the catcher line, which has only two players. But the plan went awry due to an injury. After announcing the final entry, we must first find a replacement for Choi Jae-hoon, who was injured.
The WBC national team is suffering from injuries even before the start of the tournament. Last January, major league infielders Kim Ha-seong (30, Atlanta Braves) and Song Seong-moon (29, San Diego Padres) left the team due to a rupture of the middle tendon of their right hand and a side muscle injury, respectively.
After much deliberation, the final entry of 30 people was announced on the 6th, but as additional injuries emerged, we were in trouble. According to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), WBC entries can be freely replaced until the main tournament if there is an injury or appropriate reason.
The KBO plans to look for a replacement for Choi Jae-hoon with time to spare.
Meanwhile, the national team led by Coach Ryu Ji-hyun will leave for Okinawa, Japan on February 16th to begin convocation training in preparation for the main tournament.
Reporter Seungjae Yoon yogiyoon@edaily.co.kr
date: 2026-02-08 14:03:00