Batting champion Koo Ja-wook? Saves champion Kim Jae-yun? Samsung's focus is solely on the championship, Park Jin-man says, "Titles are important, but winning the championship comes first."

*This content was translated by AI.

Leading the charge are Samsung Lions' Koo Ja-wook (33), who is challenging for his first batting title since turning pro in 2012, and Kim Jae-yun (36), who is leading the saves category and aiming for his first saves title in his professional debut. The team is emphasizing "team championship" over individual titles.

As of the conclusion of games on the 9th, Koo Ja-wook, who has appeared in 104 games this season, is performing exceptionally with a batting average of 0.362 (140 hits in 387 at-bats), 14 home runs, 93 RBIs, 78 runs scored, 5 stolen bases, an on-base percentage of 0.446, a slugging percentage of 0.561, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 1.007. He is currently leading the batting category with a significant gap over Victor Reyes of Lotte Giants (0.347). Even across the entire season, he has maintained a batting average around .400 every month except June (0.287). Since May, his batting average alone stands at 0.372, and his monthly batting average in August was also 0.403.

Park Jin-man (50), Samsung's manager, cited Koo Ja-wook's exceptional hitting form as a result of rigorous self-management. Manager Park praised him, saying, "When players' stamina declines toward the end of the season, their speed and other abilities often drop, but Koo Ja-wook has consistently maintained his physical condition to play based on experience and has developed his own effective routine."

Samsung's Kim Jae-yun is also challenging for his first career saves title. As of the conclusion of games on the 9th, Kim has accumulated a total of 224 saves in his career but has yet to win a saves title. During the 2022 and 2023 seasons while playing for KT Wiz, he finished second in saves both years. The saves leaders were Go Woo-seok in 2022 and Seo Jin-yong (both 42 years old) with 42 saves each in 2023. This season, Kim has 31 saves, five more than LG Twins' Son Ju-young and KT Wiz's Park Young-hyun, who both have 26 saves.

With approximately 20 games remaining until the end of the regular season, Manager Park positively assessed the possibility of Koo Ja-wook and Kim Jae-yun winning titles this season while clearly stating that team performance takes priority. Pointing to the phrase "There is no player greater than the team" written on the dugout lineup whiteboard, Manager Park noted, "It seems both Kim Jae-yun and Koo Ja-wook are in a position to win titles," then added with a smile, "While individual titles are important, since the team comes first, I hope they achieve the championship first and then secure the titles."

Both players have demonstrated selfless dedication to their team. Koo Ja-wook has shown increased effort in defense this season, while Kim Jae-yun took the mound despite not being in a save situation during an 8th home game against KIA on the 8th, when his team was leading by four runs (6-2), and secured the victory. Manager Park Jin-man also remarked, "Koo Ja-wook has shown particularly active defensive efforts this season," and added regarding Kim Jae-yun, "Given that it's a critical situation toward the end of the season, he would even pitch on consecutive days if needed in a save situation."

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*This content was translated by AI.