Samsung clinched first place in the first half, bolstered by infielder Sim Jae-hoon, who said, "It was thrilling from the dugout → I will do my best to fulfill my given role."

*This content was translated by AI.

Samsung Lions secured a winning series in their final three-game matchup against LG Twins to close out the first half with a strong first-place finish. Sim Jae-hoon (20), an infielder who started all three games in the intense head-to-head series against LG Twins, exhaled with relief on the 10th, the day after the game, and expressed his firm resolve for the second half.

Sim Jae-hoon, who started all three games against LG Twins held at Daegu Samsung Lions Park from the 7th to the 9th, stated ahead of the 2026 KBO Futures All-Star Game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 10th: "I am always striving to do my best in whatever situation I am given," sharing his determination for the season.

Regarding evaluations that his batting form is gradually improving after hitting a double against LG starting pitcher Anders Tolhurst on the 7th, Sim replied, "I tried to execute what I had prepared during at-bats. It was thanks to the many contributions from my senior teammates and coaches," shifting credit to those around him.

The first-half showdown against LG that determined the first-place team in the final stretch of the first half was truly a nail-biting contest. In the game on the 9th, Sim Jae-hoon started as shortstop and batted eighth but was substituted during the match, later recalling the moment he watched his teammates' plays from the dugout. Sim said, "It was really 'thrilling,' thrilling," adding, "Watching the game from the dugout, I felt the tension fully. The fans who came to the stadium must have had a lot of fun." He smiled while speaking.

Although it was an important game with first place at stake and pressure should have been high, Sim Jae-hoon did not lose his composure. He said that advice from veteran senior teammates who helped stabilize the team's core provided significant support.

Sim Jae-hoon shared his thoughts at the time before the three-game series: "During the pre-game meeting, (former) Ja-wook and (Kang) Min-ho encouraged us by saying, 'We can win this easily.' Thanks to them, instead of feeling overwhelmed by the importance of the game, I treated it as just one of many regular-season games and approached it casually. With the mindset that we would win no matter what, I resolved to do only what I could."

With his role becoming even more critical due to gaps left by injuries such as Lee Jae-hyun's, Sim Jae-hoon plans to maintain his own pace without wavering.

When asked about his resolve for the second half, he said, "Going forward, I will strictly follow my usual routine from pre-game preparation onward." He added, "The only part I can control is thorough preparation. I will do my best in the second half to showcase prepared plays on the field without regrets."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.