"Exceptional performances by Kwak Bin, Choi Min-seok, and Park Jun-soon": Expectations for the National Team Bears, with the "returning Golden Boys" as the biggest variable in their autumn campaign

*This content was translated by AI.

Despite the twists and turns, the national baseball team returned home in triumph after securing its fifth consecutive title at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Expectations are rising as to what impact the players, who came back energized by their gold medal win, will have on their respective clubs during the fall season.

The most dominant performance came from the Doosan Bears players. Team Korea's No. 1 starter Kwak Bin delivered a no-hitter in the first game against Taiwan, pitching six innings with two walks and 10 strikeouts to secure the team's first win of the tournament. He then started again in the final against Japan, delivering a strong performance over 6⅓ innings on 111 pitches, allowing four hits and two base-on-balls while striking out nine batters and giving up one run, fulfilling his role perfectly.

Pitcher Choi Min-seok, who is tied for the lead in wins, also delivered a two-inning perfect outing against Hong Kong. In the Super Round match against China, he started and pitched seven innings, striking out nine batters while allowing just one run to secure the victory. It was a valuable performance that minimized bullpen usage ahead of the final.

On the offensive side, Park Jun-soon stood out prominently. In six games, he posted a .500 batting average (nine hits in 18 at-bats), one home run, six runs batted in, and six runs scored, along with an on-base percentage of .550, a slugging percentage of .889, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 1.439, soaring through the lineup.

He hit a two-run double with one RBI in the first group stage match against Taiwan and drove in a bases-loaded home run to seal a walk-off victory over Thailand. It was the first home run of the tournament for Team Park Jun-sun-ui (CEO). In the Super Round against Japan, he used technical skill to get on base against the tricky pitches of Shinya Higuchi, who had also troubled Korea earlier in the tournament. He also collected a hit in the final rematch against Japan, setting a new record by recording a hit in every game of the tournament. He was the most outstanding hitter on the national team, leading the team in hits and runs scored while ranking second in RBIs.

In an interview after returning home, Kwak Bin said of his role as the national team's starting pitcher, "It is truly a position that carries a great burden." He added, "I thought this pressure could also be a position that helps me grow further. I prepared for the tournament and entered the games with that mindset, and it seems that led to good results."

His confidence has grown, and this appears poised to translate directly into the postseason. In particular, Kwak Bin had struggled severely in previous postseasons, posting a 0-3 record with a 7.58 ERA over six games. However, his experience of overcoming extreme pressure to win a gold medal is expected to serve as nourishment that will transform Kwak Bin’s performance in the postseason as well.

Curiosity about the leading KT Wiz is also growing. The team posted a strong record of six wins, three losses, and one draw in 10 games despite playing without two starting pitchers and its closer, but the team's ERA of 4.70 was disappointing. Had it not been for the overwhelming power of the lineup, the gap with second-place Samsung Lions could have narrowed further.

However, So Hyoung-jun started against Japan and took the loss after allowing four hits and two walks while giving up two runs over three innings. Oh Won-seok pitched in two games, delivering a scoreless performance over five innings, but did not take the mound in the matches against Taiwan or Japan. Closer Park Young-hyun became the pitcher who was carried on his teammates' shoulders after the final against Japan. Despite posting a scoreless record with eight strikeouts over four innings across three games, he also created tense situations by allowing six hits and one walk. His walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP) reached 1.75.

As the season nears its end, with Samsung eyeing a late-season turnaround, attention is turning to whether the pitching staff, already burdened by fatigue from the Asian Games, can provide a decisive boost to the team.

The KIA Tigers also have some concerns. Kim Do-young has posted a disappointing record in this tournament, batting .250 (6-for-24) with four runs batted in and five runs scored over six games, along with an on-base percentage of .333, a slugging percentage of .333, and an OPS of .666. He struck out eight times, underscoring the frustration surrounding his performance.

It is unclear whether the impact was due to being hit in the face by a ball before participating in the tournament, but it was difficult to regard his performance as that of a player who has recorded 40 home runs and 100 RBIs in the league.

Although he had limited playing time in major games, Park Jae-hyun made an impact by recording the team-leading seven runs batted in across five games, including a grand slam against Thailand, while Sung Young-tak’s one scoreless inning provided some consolation.

Samsung, which is chasing KT, is eagerly awaiting the return of its Golden Boys. During their absence, Samsung has posted a 4-3 record and maintained a three-game gap behind KT. However, it must close that gap as much as possible before the final three games against KT.

Kim Ji-chan, who played as the starting center fielder, posted a .294 batting average (five hits in 17 at-bats), four RBIs, and four runs scored across six games. Lee Jae-hyun had limited playing time but delivered a crucial performance with two hits in two at-bats, one RBI, and three runs scored over three games. Bae Chan-seung also contributed to the championship by pitching five strikeouts without allowing any earned runs over two innings in two appearances.

The LG Twins, who are trailing fourth-place KIA by two games, also urgently need strong performances from returning players. Moon Bo-kyung, the national team's No. 4 hitter, posted a .294 batting average (five hits in 17 at-bats), one home run, five RBIs, and three runs scored over six games, along with an on-base percentage of .400, a slugging percentage of .529, and an OPS of .929. In the final game, he also delivered a decisive RBI single in the eighth inning to put the game away.

Pitcher Kim Young-woo allowed two hits, struck out three batters, and gave up one run over 1⅔ innings, showing signs of the recent instability he has exhibited in the league.

Of course, the Asian Games and the league differ in several respects. The overall level of the players on the teams they faced at the Asian Games was far lower, but there were differences in tension as well as significant variations across various environmental factors. Even when playing through the same number of innings or games, the sense of fatigue inevitably feels different.

Ultimately, which player recovers faster and contributes to the team could have a significant impact on their club's late-season performance and, by extension, their path in the postseason. Players who represented the national team are expected to be eligible for games as early as the 29th.

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*This content was translated by AI.