"Even if 100 Go Woo-seok come, we don't care." With only one game left against LG, manager Lee Kang-cheol smiles [Gwangju Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

KT Wiz manager Lee Kang-cheol (60) burst into a hearty laugh upon hearing of Go Woo-seok's (28, LG Twins) dramatic return to Korea.

Ahead of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular-season matchup against Kia Tigers at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on the 4th, manager Lee Kang-cheol joked, "Even if 100 Go Woo-seoks showed up, it wouldn't matter to us. We have only one game left against LG. There's no chance we'll meet them in the playoffs."

Recently, the biggest topic in the KBO League has been Go Woo-seok's return to LG. On the 1st, Go signed a one-year contract worth 500 million won with LG and completed his player registration with the KBO. Having returned mid-season, he will receive 150 million won for the remaining three months of the season.

After the 2023 season ended, Go Woo-seok pursued a challenge in Major League Baseball (MLB). After winding through four teams, he finally stepped onto his dream big-league stage in July this year. His joy was short-lived; he appeared in only four games and was designated for assignment (DFA) by the Minnesota Twins on the 29th of last month before declaring free agency.

With Go Woo-seok's return, it is widely believed that LG, currently engaged in a fierce standings race, has gained significant reinforcement. Since Go Woo-seok missed the July 31 player registration deadline, he cannot participate in this year's postseason. However, due to a two-week absence of key players from each team caused by the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and the fact that LG trails first-place KT by only five games, it is assessed that his participation in the regular season alone will be sufficiently helpful.

For KT, however, this development is irrelevant. This year, KT has already played 15 of its 16 scheduled games against LG. Moreover, with a record of 10 wins and 5 losses securing their position, there is no possibility of meeting LG in the playoffs either.

More pressing for manager Lee Kang-cheol is the immediate opponent, Kia Tigers. Although KT holds an advantage over Kia this year with six wins and three losses, they have faced difficult matches each time, and seven games remain. Manager Lee noted, "It's been too long since we played against Kia, so my memories are fuzzy. I reviewed their highlights almost at a full tactical analysis level, and they hit well and have strong pitchers."

On this day, KT lined up its batting order as follows: Choi Won-jun (right fielder), Kim Hyun-soo (first baseman), Ahn Hyeon-min (designated hitter), Sam Hilliard (center fielder), Heo Kyung-min (third baseman), Jang Jin-hyuk (left fielder), Oh Yun-seok (second baseman), Jo Dae-hyun (catcher), and Kwon Dong-jin (shortstop). Starting pitcher Bae Je-seong.

In response, Kia Tigers set their lineup as: Park Jae-hyun (left fielder), Harold Castro (first baseman), Kim Do-young (third baseman), Na Sung-bum (right fielder), Kim Sun-bin (designated hitter), Lee Ho-yeon (second baseman), Kim Ho-ryung (center fielder), Kim Tae-gun (catcher), and Ha Joo-seok (shortstop). Starting pitcher Adam Oller.

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*This content was translated by AI.