*This content was translated by AI.
Even after being struck by a sharp line drive on his heel, Fedek's fastball velocity never dropped. Instead, he delivered a blistering 150 km/h pitch and held the mound until the end. Samsung Lions' foreign ace Chris Fedek (30) overcame a terrifying injury scare with a heroic performance to lead his team to victory.
On the 11th, Samsung secured a hard-fought 6-4 win against Kiwoom Heroes in a home game at Daegu Samsung Lions Park during the '2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League'. In the lineup, Lewin Diaz's hot bat shone with 3 hits in 3 at-bats and 5 RBIs. On the mound, Fedek's heroic effort as the starting pitcher, battling through injury, sustained the team. With this win, Samsung completed a perfect sweep of all home games against Kiwoom this season, proving their dominance at home.
A potential turning point in today's game occurred in the bottom of the 4th inning. With Samsung leading 4-0 and no outs with runners on first and third bases, Kiwoom's Kim Dong-heon hit a sharp line drive that struck Fedek squarely on the heel. The deflected ball resulted in an infield grounder out at third base, recording an out, but the impact was so severe that the atmosphere around the field instantly froze.
Even Samsung's dugout saw trainers urgently rush onto the mound to check Fedek's condition. Fedek himself clearly showed signs of enduring intense pain. Yet, no substitution was made. Composing himself, Fedek expressed his strong determination to continue pitching.
What followed was astonishing. According to pitch analysis data provided by Samsung, Fedek's fastball velocity did not drop at all after being hit, reaching a peak of 150 km/h. Minimizing runs allowed through his pain-forged effort, Fedek closed out the 4th inning and held strong through the 5th and 6th innings to complete a Quality Start (6+ innings with 3 or fewer earned runs). His final line was 6 innings pitched, 9 hits allowed, 5 strikeouts, and 3 earned runs. Fedek secured his fifth win of the season (2 losses). His fastest pitch today reached 152 km/h in the second inning after throwing 102 pitches total.
After the game, Fedek smiled with a sigh of relief. Regarding the injured area that had caused the most concern, Fedek stated, "The impact area is fine. Right after being hit, the training staff treated it very quickly." He added, "I kept moving back and forth during the game to prevent swelling. It feels more like discomfort than actual pain right now. I think a bruise might be forming, so for now, I'll rest well, recover fully, then report to work tomorrow to check my physical condition again."
Especially regarding how he weathered the crises in the 4th and 5th innings, Fedek credited his battery partner, veteran catcher Kang Min-ho (41), for his leadership. Fedek said, "From the start, our fielders provided solid run support, so we started with good momentum. I tried to aggressively attack the strike zone as much as possible, but in the 4th and 5th innings, I think I overthought things and lost some confidence."
Fedek continued, "At those moments, both the pitching coach and Kang Min-ho told me, 'You seem to be thinking too much.' Especially Min-ho gives clear feedback on what I need to improve in each inning. Having someone like him working in sync with me is incredibly reassuring. On this occasion, I want to give a special shout-out (a gesture of gratitude and respect) to Min-ho," while raising his thumb.
Regarding areas for improvement, Fedek said, "It's regrettable that I wavered in the 4th and 5th innings. However, I'm glad I cleanly held off the opposing batters when they faced me for the second and third times in the 6th inning before coming out." He added his resolve to continue fulfilling his responsibility as an ace on the mound going forward.
Finally, Samsung manager Park Jin-man (50) also praised Fedek, stating, "Despite being hit by a pitch and not feeling well, he pitched effectively through six innings and earned a Quality Start, which is why we won."
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*This content was translated by AI.
