"No problem with a two-week break": An Hyun-min walks on an 8-pitch count, Hilliard hits a leadoff two-run homer! KT takes a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning [Suwon On-Site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The KT Wiz, taking the field in their first live game in about two weeks, showed excellent batting form from the start.

Hilliard hit a leadoff two-run home run in his first at-bat of the bottom of the first inning during the practice game against the Military Sports Agency (Sangmu) to prepare for the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League Korea Series (KS), held at Suwon KT Wiz Park at 2 p.m. on the 27th.

Facing pitcher Jin Seung-hyun, the KT started with Choi Won-jun hitting a deep fly ball near the outfield wall. An Hyun-min walked after an eight-pitch full count battle. There, Hilliard crushed a 132 km/h cutter from Jin Seung-hyun, launching a two-run home run to the left field foul pole.

It was a powerful hit that dispelled Manager Lee Kang-cheol's (60) pre-game concerns. Before the game, when asked by reporters what he would focus on checking during the practice game, Manager Lee emphasized, "It is about feel. I mean finding some feel. Not maintaining it, but finding it."

On this day, the KT lined up their batting order as follows: Choi Won-jun (right fielder) - Kim Min-hyuk (left fielder) - An Hyun-min (designated hitter) - Sam Hilliard (center fielder) - Kim Hyun-soo (first baseman) - Jang Seong-woo (designated hitter) - Kim Sang-su (second baseman) - Heo Kyung-min (third baseman) - Han Seung-taek (catcher) - Jang Jun-won (shortstop). The starting pitcher is Daniel Davis.

In response, the Sangmu team managed by Manager Park Chi-wang (57) set their batting order as follows: Jeong Hyun-seung (left fielder) - Lee Tae-kyung (third baseman) - Park Ji-hwan (center fielder) - Jang Jae-young (first baseman) - Lee Seung-hyun (second baseman) - Lee Seung-won (designated hitter) - Kim Byung-jun (right fielder) - Shin Yong-seok (catcher) - Yang Do-geun (shortstop) - Kim Gyu-min (designated hitter). The starting pitcher is Jin Seung-hyun.

This is the first practice game for the KT, who are the regular season leaders and will enter the best-of-seven Korea Series starting on the 2nd. This year, the KT achieved their first 90 wins in franchise history with a record of 90 wins, 5 draws, and 49 losses, securing the top spot in the regular season. They will face the winner of the playoffs (best-of-five) between the second-place Samsung Lions and the third-place KIA Tigers, which is currently underway.

The KT took the field in a live game for the first time in half a month after the regular season ended on the 12th. As such, both teams sent out 10 batters as starters, focusing on restoring the live-game feel of as many players as possible.

Starting with today's game against Sangmu, the KT will play practice games at Suwon KT Wiz Park against the U-23 national baseball team at 6 p.m. on the 28th and again against the U-23 representative team at 6 p.m. on the 30th. The KT also provided lodging for Sangmu the previous day (the 26th) so that they could compete in optimal condition.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original