Seoul: The Samsung Lions announced Saturday they will cut ties with their injured American pitcher Matt Manning, with the right-hander expected to miss the rest of the year with an elbow injury. A Lions official said Manning had been recently diagnosed with elbow ligament damage that requires surgery. "We're trying to find a new foreign pitcher as soon as possible and to make sure our preparation for the new season will not be affected," the official added.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Manning complained of elbow pains after being shelled for four runs on three hits, three walks, and a hit-by-pitch in only 2/3 of an inning against the Hanwha Eagles in a scrimmage in Japan on Tuesday. Manning traveled to South Korea on Thursday to undergo tests at four different clinics, and they all revealed ligament issues in his pitching arm.
Manning signed for US$1 million in December with 50 major league games under his belt. Manning spent the entire 2025 season in Triple-A, first for the Detroit Tigers and later for the Philadelphia Phillies following a July trade. In 33 outings combined, including six starts, Manning went 2-3 with a 6.47 ERA in 55 2/3 innings, while recording 60 strikeouts and 44 walks.
The Lions had hoped Manning would be their No. 2 starter behind returning ace Ariel Jurado, but will now have to scramble to find a new pitcher about a month before the start of the regular season. Jurado will be away in early March to pitch for Panama at the World Baseball Classic. The Lions are also currently without their top South Korean pitcher Won Tae-in, who has been dealing with elbow problems of his own.
Won received treatments on his arm over the past week in Japan and reported to the Lions' minor league camp in South Korea on Saturday. He will be reevaluated next Friday.