“Immediately after the elimination,” LG captain stands alone, hands clasped, head bowed — and he blamed only “one person”: “I failed to change the team’s atmosphere” [On-site report from Preliminary Playoffs Game 3]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

LG Twins captain Park Hae-min (36) blamed only one person after being eliminated from the preliminary playoffs (best-of-five series): himself. He repeatedly expressed self-reproach, stating that his own shortcomings had prevented him from changing the team’s atmosphere. While it was not solely the responsibility of Park Hae-min alone but a shared burden, the captain’s dignity shone through as he displayed a strong sense of accountability.

On the 20th, LG suffered a decisive 1-13 defeat in Game 3 of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Postseason preliminary playoffs against KIA at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium.

LG had already lost both Game 1 and Game 2 of the series at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field. Facing a do-or-die situation, they attempted a comeback in this third game but fell short. With starting pitcher Carlos Karasco being removed before completing two innings, LG ultimately suffered a helpless three-game sweep.

Nevertheless, LG captain Park Hae-min fought hard. After hitting three hits each in Games 1 and 2, Park added one more hit on this day. He was the standout performer of the series, recording seven hits in 12 at-bats (a .583 batting average).

Following the loss, Park Hae-min spoke alone with reporters, hands clasped together. “It is truly disappointing,” he began. “I am left with the regret of thinking, ‘What if I had led the team better as captain?’ I want to convey my gratitude to my teammates who have been with me throughout this season despite following an insufficient captain.”

On this day, when LG allowed seven runs in the second inning, Park Hae-min personally gathered the players in front of the first-base dugout and delivered a message. Regarding this, Park explained, “It may sound strange to say this, but I told them that it is okay to lose, but if we are going to lose, I hope we do so with dignity. We should not try to solve everything at once. I said that if we tackle things one by one, starting with the small details, we can achieve our goals.”

As LG’s slump continued in the preliminary playoffs, various comments emerged. Park Hae-min said, “I believe those comments arose because of my own shortcomings. I have also heard and seen such articles and discussions, but I believe there is not a single player who harbors that kind of mindset.”

He continued, “I believe there was not a single player with that kind of mindset. And since I have observed them closely, if there had been any such players, I would have said something to them. In any case, regarding what is visible on the surface, I think those comments arose entirely because of my shortcomings. I should have steadied the team’s atmosphere or taken different actions, but my failure in that area seems to be why such remarks were made,” he said, blaming himself.

Nevertheless, when mentioned that Park Hae-min “led by example regardless of the result,” he responded, “That is a matter of course, and I believe the club and team clearly expected it in that regard. However, the regret of ultimately failing to bring about a positive result seems to be the most lingering feeling.”

LG’s inability to generate offensive power throughout the series was painful. Park Hae-min said, “After the Wild Card Series ended, I spoke about KIA Tigers’ Kim Do-young. At that time, I stated that baseball ultimately cannot be played alone. I think our team fell short in that aspect. Therefore, rather than letting players simply brush off this feeling and move on, I hope they approach next season’s preparation with a truly fierce mindset.”

Finally, addressing the LG fans who cheered until the final game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, he said, “It seems like I am saying the same thing over and over. You cheered hard for all 144 games, but I am truly sorry that we could not live up to your expectations. I believe this result occurred because of my shortcomings. If I had led the team better, this outcome would not have happened. Looking back on the season, there were many losing streaks. Each time, I feel deeply sorry for failing to change the team’s atmosphere due to my lack of capability. I want to express my sincere gratitude to the fans who cheered hard throughout the season,” he said, bidding farewell while looking forward to the future.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original