'KS Veteran' Kang Min-ho, Playfully Provokes Woo Kyu-min: "You Can't Start at First Place → Climb Step by Step to the Korean Series"

*This content was translated by AI.

"(Woo) Kyu-min hasn't been to the Korean Series yet. He needs to climb step by step starting from second place."

Even amid a fierce battle for first place in the regular season, veteran catcher Kang Min-ho (41, Samsung Lions) delivered a lighthearted provocation that brought smiles to reporters. After leading his team to victory with a precious walk-off hit following an extra-inning bloodbath, he playfully teased his close senior, Woo Kyu-min (42, KT Wiz), who has yet to step onto the Korean Series stage. This highlights just how intense the race for standings has become.

On the 5th, Samsung secured a thrilling comeback victory over LG Twins in an extra-inning battle at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Songpa-gu, Seoul, winning 4-3 in the 11th inning of their away game in the '2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League'.

In today's game, Kang Min-ho, who entered as a substitute, hit a walk-off single to left field with one out and runners on first and second in the top of the 11th inning while the score was tied 3-3, leading Samsung back to sole first place. Not only was he the hero of the winning hit, but he also worked seamlessly with catcher Kim Jae-yoon during a critical situation in the bottom of the ninth with no outs and runners on first and third, helping secure a scoreless inning.

In a post-game interview, Kang Min-ho wittily responded to reporters' remarks that "Woo Kyu-min, who plays for KT, seems to desperately hope for his team's first-ever regular-season first place."

Kang Min-ho laughed heartily, saying, "Hasn't Kyu-min hyung never been to the Korean Series? You have to climb step by step. He should go through second place and gradually reach the Korean Series; he can't aim for first place in the regular season from the start and then jump straight to winning the championship."

Kang Min-ho, a 'KS Veteran' who finished second in the 2024 regular season while playing for Samsung, went through the playoffs to step onto his debut Korean Series stage. In contrast, 'veteran pitcher' Woo Kyu-min has no record of appearing in the Korean Series, the final autumn baseball stage. The junior Kang Min-ho, who has already experienced the step of "second place in the regular season followed by a Korean Series appearance," playfully sent a cute yet sharp warning to his one-year-older senior, Woo Kyu-min.

Kang Min-ho added, "I also climbed through second place and experienced the Korean Series. So Kyu-min hyung should also come up in second place this time to taste it, and aim for the championship next year," wittily expressing his own ambition toward winning the first regular-season first-place trophy.

In fact, today's game was a perfect display of Kang Min-ho's experience and competitive spirit. He held off a deep crisis in the ninth inning when defeat seemed likely, maintaining a tight momentum, and then delivered a decisive blow in the 11th inning that allowed Samsung to take control of the game.

Regarding his walk-off hit in the 11th inning, Kang Min-ho explained, "My mindset was just to avoid a double play. I only thought, 'Even if we have to die, let's make sure Kim Ji-chan gets on base before I do.' Fortunately, it turned into a run-scoring single, and I'm truly happy that our team could win," adding his thoughts alongside the explanation.

He also revealed behind-the-scenes moments of calming the pitchers. For Kim Jae-yoon, who entered with no outs and runners on first and third in the ninth inning, he instructed, "Just think we've already lost and throw comfortably. Don't run away; be more aggressive from the first pitch." He credited his junior, saying, "Thanks to Jae-yoon throwing perfectly at the right spots." For Asian quota pitcher Satochi, who took over the mound in the bottom of the 11th with a 4-3 lead, he said, "Since consecutive balls came in early, I encouraged him to focus on the center and throw comfortably. His velocity and control are gradually improving."

On the fierce battle for first place continuing until the end of the regular season, Kang Min-ho sighed, saying, "I'm trying to aim for a regular-season championship for the first time, and I wonder if it's really this hard." He continued, "In fact, KT is incredibly strong, and LG is also surging up from below with terrifying momentum. It seems like even the slightest mistake won't be tolerated. There's no room for complacency; right now, there isn't even time to feel tired or overwhelmed. I will focus all my attention until the final moment," showing his firm resolve.

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*This content was translated by AI.