'Early .200 foreign investor → May batting average .373, solid defense too' Coach Lee Kang-cheol: "Trust is now established" [Suwon]

*This content was translated by AI.

"He has improved significantly. Now, trust is in place."

Lee Kang-cheol (60), manager of KT Wiz, smiled. Even amid recent poor team performance, Sam Hilliard (32)'s hitting has provided considerable reassurance.

On the 23rd, ahead of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League home game against NC Dinos at Suwon KT Wiz Park, Manager Lee Kang-cheol met with reporters and expressed satisfaction with Hilliard's performance.

Hilliard signed with KT for a total contract value of $1 million prior to this season. A sturdy left-handed batter standing 196 cm and weighing 107 kg, he was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 2015 MLB draft. In his 332 career major league games, he recorded 44 home runs, 107 RBIs, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.735.

He was expected to generate synergy with hitters like Ahn Hyun-min in the middle of the lineup, but faced ups and downs early in the season.

Through April, in 28 games, he posted a .232 batting average (112 at-bats, 26 hits), 5 home runs, and 21 RBIs. While he collected RBIs amid overall lineup activity, he also struck out 37 times, and more importantly, struggled to make consistent contact.

Everything changed in May. In 17 games, he has hit .373 (67 at-bats, 25 hits), with 7 home runs and 17 RBIs. His season stats have risen to a .285 batting average, 12 home runs, 38 RBIs, 37 runs scored, a .353 on-base percentage, a .564 slugging percentage, and a 0.917 OPS. He currently ranks second in home runs and third in both RBIs and runs scored.

Manager Lee Kang-cheol said with a wry smile, "For Hilliard, May needs to last longer, but for our team, it needs to pass quickly."

KT, once leading the league, has slowed to 3 wins and 7 losses in their last 10 games, dropping to second place. To turn around this slump, the team must endure until injured players like Ahn Hyun-min and So Hyoung-jun return, but Hilliard has already fulfilled his role sufficiently.

"I can't be 100% satisfied, but he is doing his job well enough," the manager said. "Perfection doesn't exist, but I'm glad he's adapted. Only someone like Austin could be perfect. Still, he's improved a lot. Now, trust is in place."

His defensive contributions are also outstanding. He has played all outfield positions—left field (255 innings), center field (108⅓ innings), first base (21 innings), and right field (7 innings)—enhancing the team's roster flexibility.

The manager noted, "He plays defense well. People say he can see everything in the outfield. He's a center fielder and will do well there. We might occasionally shift him, use the designated hitter, or rotate him occasionally."

This is a game where the lineup must step up. KT will start Matt Sauer, while NC will send ace Chu Chang-mo. KT's lineup for the day: Choi Won-jun (right field), Kim Sang-su (second base), Kim Hyun-su (first base), Hilliard (center field), Kim Min-hyuk (left field), Jang Sung-woo (designated hitter), Heo Kyung-min (third base), Han Seung-taek (catcher), and Kwon Dong-jin (shortstop).

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*This content was translated by AI.