This photo provided by the Hanwha Eagles on June 17, 2024, shows the Korea Baseball Organization club’s temporary foreign pitcher, Ryan Weiss. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jun. 17 (Korea Bizwire) — The Hanwha Eagles announced Monday they’ve signed U.S. minor leaguer Ryan Weiss as a temporary injury replacement.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club said Weiss will take a spot in the starting rotation vacated by Ricardo Sanchez, who was placed on the injured list Saturday with elbow pains.
The Eagles are the third team to make use of the new rule instituted this season that allows for temporary foreign injury replacements.
Under this rule, teams can acquire a temporary replacement if a current player suffers an injury that requires at least six weeks on the sidelines. In this transaction, teams won’t lose one of their two opportunities to change foreign players during a season.
The Eagles said Weiss signed for US$100,000 for six weeks, a deal that includes a $12,000 signing bonus. Temporary replacement players are not allowed to make more than $100,000 per month.
Weiss, 27, was selected in the fourth round of the 2018 draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks, but he has yet to pitch in the majors. He first reached Triple-A in 2021 without getting over the final hump. The right-hander split the 2023 season pitching for the Fubon Guardians in the Chinese Professional Baseball League in Taiwan and for the High Point Rockers in the independent Atlantic League.
Weiss had been with the Rockers for his second season before signing with the Eagles.
In three Triple-A seasons, Weiss went 6-4 with a 6.72 ERA in 70 outings, including just one start. He made 18 starts in independent ball while posting an 8-7 record with a 4.49 ERA over 100 1/3 innings.
The Eagles said Weiss throws his four-seam fastballs over 150 kph (93.2 mph) and also offers the sinker, the curveball, the slider and the changeup.
Through Sunday’s action, the Eagles ranked sixth among 10 KBO teams with a 4.97 ERA and seventh overall with a 4.91 ERA by their starters.
(Yonhap)
