Will Ryan Weiss Return to Hanwha Eagles? He’d Have to Walk Away From $2 Million — And the Team Hasn’t Even Called
The man once nicknamed “Jesus of Daejeon” has gone from KBO ace to MLB afterthought in the span of a single season. When news broke that Ryan Weiss (30) had been designated for assignment (DFA) by the Houston Astros, speculation about a return to the Hanwha Eagles spread like wildfire among Korean baseball fans. But here’s the cold reality: Hanwha hasn’t reached out to Weiss at all. So why isn’t the team even trying to bring back the pitcher who helped end a 25-year Korean Series drought?
From KBO Ace to a 7.62 ERA — The Shocking Fall of a Fan Favorite
Any Hanwha fan who watched the 2025 KBO season knows exactly what Weiss meant to the team. Thirty starts, a 16-5 record, a 2.87 ERA, and 207 strikeouts. With his long hair flying and his arm blazing, Weiss carried the Eagles to their first Korean Series appearance in 25 years, earning the legendary nickname “Jesus of Daejeon” along the way. That dominant performance earned him a contract with the Houston Astros in December 2025 — a $2.6 million deal that finally put him in a big league uniform.
The 2026 season, however, has been brutal. In nine appearances with Houston, Weiss went 0-3 with a 7.62 ERA. He was bumped from the starting rotation, failed to find footing in the bullpen, and was officially designated for assignment on June 13 (KST). Even after being placed on waivers, not a single MLB team put in a claim. The reason is straightforward: claiming Weiss would mean absorbing his remaining salary and sacrificing a 40-man roster spot — a price no team is willing to pay given his recent numbers.
The $2 Million Wall — Why a Return Is Much Harder Than Fans Think
There’s one critical detail that many fans are glossing over. Even if Hanwha wanted Weiss back tomorrow, it wouldn’t be as simple as picking up the phone. The real obstacle is what Weiss himself would have to give up. Following the DFA, he has two options: accept a minor league assignment and keep receiving his remaining salary, or exercise his free agent rights and hit the open market. Only by choosing free agency does the door to KBO open — but the moment he does that, he forfeits the roughly $2 million still owed to him by Houston. For a professional athlete in his prime earning years, walking away from that kind of money is an enormous ask. Until that question is resolved, Weiss returning to Korea is a possibility, not a plan.
Why Hasn’t Hanwha Made a Single Call?
For many fans, this is the part that stings the most. Even after the DFA news broke, Hanwha reportedly made no contact whatsoever with Weiss or his representatives. Two reasons seem to explain this. First, the club has likely concluded that any negotiation is pointless until Weiss personally decides to forfeit his remaining salary — and that’s entirely his call to make. Second, and perhaps more telling, Hanwha has already built its foreign pitcher rotation for 2026 around Hernandez and Owen White. The 2025 magic was real, but the front office has moved on. Weiss simply isn’t part of the current plan.
Fan reactions have been split. Some feel a sense of loyalty: “He helped resurrect this franchise — the least they could do is call.” Others see it differently: “The front office staying focused on the team’s plan is exactly what professionalism looks like.” Regardless of where you stand, this situation has reignited long-standing questions among Hanwha fans about how the organization manages its relationships with former players.
What Are Weiss’s Options From Here? The Possible Scenarios
- Accept a Minor League Assignment: Keep collecting his remaining salary while grinding it out in the minors and angling for a 2027 roster opportunity. The money is protected, but a big league comeback is far from guaranteed.
- Exercise Free Agency and Return to KBO: Walk away from approximately $2 million, obtain free agent status, and sign with a KBO team. Hanwha would be the sentimental choice, but other Korean clubs could absolutely make a move first.
- Pursue Another MLB Opportunity: No waiver claim came in, but a minor league invitation from another organization remains possible after free agency. This path depends entirely on how much Weiss still wants to prove himself in America.
According to SPOTV News, no MLB team has shown meaningful interest in Weiss since the DFA. If that trend continues, a KBO return could become a realistic option sooner than anyone expected. The uncomfortable truth, though, is that there’s no guarantee that return would be with Hanwha. Any KBO team could make the first move.
Key Facts Every Hanwha Fan Should Know
- Weiss’s 2026 MLB stats: 9 appearances, 0-3, 7.62 ERA — DFA on June 13
- What a KBO return requires: Weiss must forfeit ~$2 million in remaining salary and exercise free agent rights
- Has Hanwha reached out? No — and the team has already finalized its foreign pitcher roster
- Waiver wire result: Zero claims from any MLB team
- Hanwha’s current foreign starters: Hernandez and Owen White
The “Jesus of Daejeon” is standing at the most difficult crossroads of his career. Does he protect his paycheck and chase a big league comeback in the minors? Or does he walk away from the money and return to the country where his career was reborn? Whatever Weiss decides, it won’t just matter to him — it could set a fascinating precedent for how foreign players and KBO teams navigate these exact situations going forward.
Sources
- Former Hanwha pitcher Weiss designated for assignment — could he return to the Eagles? — Money Today
- The harsh reality facing ‘Jesus of Daejeon’ — is a Hanwha return next? MLB shows zero interest — SPOTV NEWS
- Weiss confirms MLB return, signs with Houston Astros for 2026 — Nate Sports
- “Weiss signing a total failure” — amid MLB criticism, Hanwha return rumors gain traction — Ilgan Sports
- DFA’d after just half a season — does the ‘Jesus of Daejeon’ return to Hanwha? — Munhwa Ilbo
