Former Hanwha Eagles Pitcher Weiss Designated for Assignment by MLB's Houston Astros

Right-handed pitcher Ryan Weiss, who delivered an outstanding performance for the KBO League's Hanwha Eagles last year, is set to be released by the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB) just half a season after joining the team.

The Houston Astros announced today that they have designated Weiss for assignment (DFA).

Weiss, who joined Hanwha during the 2024 season, played a pivotal role in leading the team to the Korean Series in 2025, recording 16 wins, 5 losses, a 2.87 ERA, and 207 strikeouts across 30 games.

Highly regarded for his performance, Weiss signed a one-year contract with Houston worth a total of $2.6 million (approximately 4 billion KRW) after the season and returned to the United States.

Weiss realized his dream of becoming a big leaguer by making the Opening Day roster this season, but he was demoted to the minor leagues after posting a poor record of 3 losses and a 7.62 ERA in 9 regular-season games.

He failed to bounce back in Triple-A, the highest level of the minor leagues.

In 5 games, he struggled with 3 losses and no wins, posting an 8.41 ERA. Ultimately, the Houston Astros decided to part ways with Weiss.

Following his designation for assignment, Weiss can be traded if another team expresses interest. If no team claims him, he will either be sent to the minor leagues or become a free agent (FA).

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.