A first-year rookie who earned a spot in the postseason roster with confidence: "I am thrilled about my first fall baseball, but I am deeply grateful to the team"

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Samsung Lions rookie pitcher Jang Chan-hee (19), who guarded the mound in both starting and relief roles without hesitation during his first year on the professional stage, shared his bold resolve and mature mindset ahead of his first postseason appearance.

Jang met with reporters at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 25th to share his impressions of making the postseason roster and his feelings ahead of the decisive games. With the scheduled Game 1 of the Playoffs (PO, best-of-five series) between Samsung and the KIA Tigers canceled due to rain, Jang's opportunity for his first fall baseball appearance has been postponed by one day.

After graduating from Gyeongnam High School and being selected in the third round, 29th overall, of the 2026 KBO Rookie Draft, Jang donned the Samsung uniform and established himself as a reliable asset on the first-division mound from his debut year. In this season, Jang appeared in 41 games (starting nine times), pitching 76 innings to record 4 wins, 5 losses, 3 holds, and an ERA of 4.50. He contributed to the team by quietly fulfilling his role whenever a gap opened on the mound, such as for long relief or as a replacement starter.

Although he confidently secured a spot in the fall baseball roster as a key member of the team, Jang remained humble about his performance. When asked how much credit he deserved for the team's advancement to the postseason this season, he answered modestly, "I am truly grateful to the club officials, the manager, and the coaches rather than taking credit for myself," adding, "While I may have helped the team in some ways, I feel that I have received far more help and opportunities from the team."

In particular, while he is considered a "natural enemy" of the opposing KIA team, having posted an ERA of 1.80 without any wins or losses in eight games against them this season, he deflected the praise. Jang explained, "KIA has many left-handed hitters with power, and I think my ability to handle them well with my forkball led to good results," while adding, "I did not pitch differently just because it was KIA. It seems like I had a lot of luck."

The heart of the 20th-year-old young man is racing with excitement ahead of his first postseason stage. Jang shared his bold ambition, saying, "Fall baseball is a place where you feel thrilled, very nervous, and very excited," and added, "I do not intend to forcibly hide those emotions; I plan to enjoy them fully."

He also kept the advice from the coaching staff close to heart. Senior coach Choi Il-eon reportedly encouraged him by saying, "In fall baseball, a single action on the mound can change the atmosphere, so it is fine to make big movements when you come down after getting a strikeout." In response, Jang smiled awkwardly and said, "I am not naturally the type to make big actions. Rather than thinking about it in advance, I think it will come out naturally if I get excited in the moment on the mound."

Although the team is facing a crisis with closer Kim Jae-yoon, who had been reliably guarding the back end of the lineup, sidelined due to injury, Jang indicated that he would prepare thoroughly from his position. He emphasized, "I think senior players with better pitching power than me will take over the closer role," and added, "I am focusing on perfectly connecting the bridge role from the middle of the game until the closer comes in."

Finally, he stated, "I have heard that a championship opportunity is a precious moment that may come only once during a player's career. I want to definitely seize this opportunity and lift the championship trophy together with my seniors this year," before leaving to prepare for the game.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original