Hanwha Eagles Demote Struggling Roh Si-hwan to Minor League

Daejeon: The Hanwha Eagles announced the demotion of their third baseman, Roh Si-hwan, to the minor league on Monday. The decision comes as the team hopes to see the 25-year-old regain his form after a challenging start to the season. According to Yonhap News Agency, Roh has been assigned to the Eagles' affiliate in the Futures League, where he will be required to remain for a minimum of 10 days. This move follows an underwhelming performance where Roh, an eight-year veteran, started all 13 games but managed a batting average of just .145, with no home runs and a mere three RBIs. Additionally, he struck out 21 times while drawing only five walks. Roh's last stint in the Futures League was in 2021 due to an injury rehab assignment. In 2025, he enjoyed a standout season, setting career highs with 32 home runs and 14 steals, and matching his personal best of 101 RBIs, as the Eagles reached the Korean Series for the first time in 19 years. Earlier this year, the Eagles secured Roh with an unprecedented 11-year contract valued at 3.07 billion won (US$20.6 million), which is set to commence next year. Roh represented South Korea at the World Baseball Classic in March and began the 2026 season as the Eagles' cleanup hitter. However, after an initial three hits from his first 10 at-bats, his performance declined significantly, resulting in a hitless streak of 0-for-14 over his last four games. Consequently, he was moved down to the No. 6 spot in the batting order for the past two games. In addition to his batting struggles, Roh also committed three errors while playing third base. Despite Roh's difficulties, the Eagles have managed to maintain a strong offensive position, ranking second in the KBO with 86 runs scored and third in the league with a .279 batting average and 13 home runs. However, the team faces challenges with their pitching, currently holding the last position among 10 clubs with a 6.41 ERA. They have lost three consecutive games and are tied for fifth place with a 6-7-0 record.