'Championship Contractor' Nickname: Fedack Nods, "I Was a High School Student During Samsung's Title 12 Years Ago → Will Do My Best to Return to the Top!"

*This content was translated by AI.

Chris Fedack (30), Samsung Lions' new foreign right-handed pitcher, led his team to victory with a flawless performance in his KBO League debut. Already aware of the expectations placed upon him as a 'championship contractor,' Fedack boldly declared his ambition to help Samsung reclaim the top spot.

On the 18th, Fedack made his debut start against Lotte Giants at DaeguSamsung Lions Park in the '2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League' home game. He delivered an outstanding performance over six innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out seven batters without surrendering a run, securing his first win in the league and proving that expectations for him were well-founded.

Thanks to Fedack's stellar outing, Samsung secured a decisive 5-0 victory, completing a three-game winning streak and extending their lead over second-place LG Twins by 2.5 games. From the very first game, he perfectly fulfilled the role assigned to him.

After the game, during an interview with on-site reporters, Fedack nodded when StarNews asked if he was aware of being labeled as a 'championship contractor.' He smiled and said, "Actually, this season's opportunity given to me is very special. Fans have also expressed that sentiment. Hearing such words makes me deeply desire to win the championship myself. In fact, I can see that same longing for victory among my teammates."

Fedack then shared an interesting behind-the-scenes detail as he recalled Samsung's last Korean Series title in 2014. "I heard Samsung's last championship was in 2014," he said, referencing his high school years. "It's been quite a while, but I'm well aware that it's time for this prestigious club to return to the top. Twelve years ago, I was a high school student watching from afar, but now that I'm standing on the mound, I will do my absolute best in every game to lead the team back to the summit."

In his debut game, Fedack demonstrated perfect utilization of both the KBO League's ABS (Automatic Ball-Strike system) and the official KBO baseball. "The KBO ball has thicker and stickier stitching compared to MLB balls, making it easier to grip on the mound," he explained. "Following advice from the catcher and coaching staff to leverage the high stitching, the movement of my breaking ball became even more effective." He added, "The ABS also provided clear visual boundaries for the strike zone, greatly aiding in pitch strategy planning. In the U.S., pitches that might not have been called strikes were now recognized as such, allowing me to navigate the game much more smoothly."

When asked why he rejected concrete offers from multiple Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) teams and chose to come to Korea, Fedack clearly cited "championship" as his primary motivation. "The most important thing in my career right now is a championship ring," he stated. "At the time Samsung contacted me before the contract, they were in second place. Hearing that they were in a fierce race for the title, I made an immediate decision without hesitation. I had heard from many players, including Kim Ha-seong of my former team San Diego, about the passionate support of KBO League fans and Samsung supporters. Experiencing it firsthand today felt like a festival," he said, giving a thumbs-up.

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*This content was translated by AI.