'5G 2 hits → 1st multi-hit' ML 44 home run bat is now on fire, but he said, "I'm still adapting to the KBO, and I'll narrow the gap between good and bad times."" [the site of a water source]

*This content was translated by AI.

KT Wiz's new foreign hitter Sam Hilliard (32) expressed satisfaction with his life in Korea.

Hilliard played as a third and designated hitter in the 2026 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League exhibition game against the LG Twins at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 17th and led KT to an 8-5 victory with two hits, one RBI, one walk, two runs and one strikeout in three at-bats. KT, which escaped from three consecutive losses, recorded one win, two draws and three losses. LG has two wins, one draw and three losses.

It was a game where KT coach Lee Kang-chul could laugh for the first time in a long time. Hilliard, who rarely burst, even brought out the results with a good batting sense. Hilliard played in all five exhibition games until this game, but he was rarely producing a hit with a batting average of 0.154 (2 hits in 13 at-bats).

This day was different. In the bottom of the first inning, with one out and a runner on first base, Kim Jin-soo touched a high fastball that fell outside to make a left-handed hit. With the bases loaded with no outs in the second inning, he picked out four balls and scored a pushback. Hilliard, who took one at-bat off with a strikeout in the fourth inning, sent another hit to the right field line with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. He set the stage for an additional point by connecting a change-up that came in low on the body with a double.

KT confirmed its 8-5 victory by adding starting pitcher Oh Won-seok's five hits (two homers) with two walks, four strikeouts and two runs in three ⅔ innings, and Ju-won's three ⅓ innings without allowing a run. After the game, head coach Lee Kang-chul said, "It is encouraging that the players are improving their condition well in time for the opening of the season. Today's starter Oh Won-seok hit a home run, but he felt that his ball power was alive. The following sovereignty was also well controlled," he said. "In the batting line, hitters such as Hilliard, Choi Won-joon, and Jang Sung-woo, who came out today, are showing good batting performance, which is positive. The players did a great job," he said with a smile.

Hilliard, who interviewed the first instructor in the exhibition game, also said, "Not only me, but also the fielders and pitchers showed very good performances. "I'm happy to be able to rest with a good performance the day before the break," he said. He continued, "I'm currently 8-90% physically. I think I can make 100% at the start of the season. He also played half of the exhibition games, but he is adapting because it is his first time in the KBO league. We are adjusting what and how much we need and I think we will be ready by the end of the exhibition game," he added.

Hilliard is a left-handed left-handed hitter who has been expected to have excellent outfield defense and long hitting power for seven seasons in the Major League. He had a batting average of 0.218 (181 hits in 831 at-bats) with 44 homers and 107 RBIs in 332 games and an on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) of 0.735. As shown in the record, he showed regret in contact, which was the reason why he failed to become the main player.

However, considering the gap between the Major League and the KBO League, KT believes Hilliard will be able to work in Korea. For this reason, the total amount of $1 million (down payment of $300,000, annual salary of $700,000) was guaranteed.

When asked what his strengths were, Hilliard said, "I'm always the type to play my best on the field. I think defense and baserunning are above average. I see myself as a power heater type, but no matter how much power heater, I try to close the gap between good and bad. I think that's the point," he stressed.

He is doing it more perfectly in defense, which is his strength. Hilliard said, "I've played like Sajik, Gwangju, and Suwon, but I think I'll feel a much stronger atmosphere when the season starts," adding, "Outdoor defense is not too difficult, but we need time to adapt little by little, such as a new stadium, surrounding environment, cloud days, no days, day games, and night games. Still, I've played a game or two, and I think I can do well without difficulty," he said.

Outside of the game, he was quickly adapting to Korean life and culture. Hilliard is currently staying in South Korea with her three-year-old child and his wife, who is expecting their second child. Hilliard, who recently met with Star News at a Japanese spring camp, said, "I know Korea is a very safe country and has a lot of great food to enjoy. "I stayed in Korea for just one day while moving to the camp site, and even within that short time, I experienced a lot of Koreans being considerate of families with young children," he said.

"When I saw it, I felt that Korea is a safe and good environment to raise children. My wife really likes to travel and thinks positively about her experiences in new places, so my family is all looking forward to living in Korea," he said.

The expectations remained. Hilliard said, "I'm eating well enough to eat bulgogi or spicy food twice at a time. There are things that need to be adapted to in a new environment, but I think very positively in terms of experiencing new things. You will also get to know new cities, and I think it will be a very enjoyable experience for my family in that part," he said with a smile.

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*This content was translated by AI.