"Both Castro and Diaz have been on fire?" Bring them on! RBI champion Hillyard, with 44 home runs, also erupted for three hits including a home run: "We will unleash everything we prepared in the Korea Series"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The foreign hitters from the KIA Tigers and Samsung Lions, who faced off to determine their advancement to the 2026 KBO League Korea Series (KS), took turns swinging their hot bats. After KIA's Harold Castro (33) led his team to victory in Game 1 of the playoffs (PO), Samsung's Lewin Diaz (30) responded with a home run in Game 2. Amidst this, Sam Hillyard (32) of the KT Wiz, who finished first in the regular season, also exploded for three hits including a home run, signaling his readiness ahead of the Korea Series.

This year's postseason has seen foreign hitters play a significant role in determining the outcomes of games. The LG Twins' Austin Dean (33) hit a go-ahead, decisive two-run homer in the wild card series against the Doosan Bears on the 14th, leading his team to the wild card playoffs (준PO). However, he failed to perform up to expectations as a key hitter in the wild card playoffs against KIA, and the LG were eliminated after losing three consecutive games.

In contrast, KIA's Castro has been hitting with great power since the wild card playoffs. Across four games, including three against the LG and Game 1 of the PO against Samsung on the 26th, he recorded a .500 batting average (8 hits in 16 at-bats), two home runs, and an OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) of 1.467. In particular, in Game 1 of the PO, he went 3-for-4 with one home run and three RBIs, leading KIA to a 5-1 victory.

Samsung's Diaz finally broke through as well. After going hitless in Game 1 on the 26th, Diaz rebounded in Game 2 on the 27th with two hits in three at-bats, one home run, and two RBIs. Notably, with the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning and one out and a runner on first base, he hit a 151 km/h fastball from KIA starter Adam Oller, launching a two-run homer that traveled 121 meters over the center field fence. Samsung defeated KIA 8-3, powered by home runs from Diaz and Choi Hyeong-woo, to even the series at one win apiece.

If Castro was the star of Game 1, Diaz saved his team in Game 2. For the KT, who are waiting for the Korea Series, it is impossible not to keep a close eye on the performances of these two hitters.

The KT also have a clutch performer who is no less impressive. Hillyard started as the No. 4 hitter and center fielder in a practice game against the Military Sports Command (상무) at SuwonKT Wiz Park on the 27th, prepared for the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League Korea Series. He delivered an outstanding performance with three hits in three at-bats, one home run, three RBIs, and one run scored. The KT also pounded out nine hits to secure a decisive 7-0 victory over the Military Sports Command.

Hillyard claimed the RBI title this regular season with 44 home runs and 139 RBIs. He competed for the home run title against KIA's Kim Do-young (45 home runs) until the very end, playing a decisive role in helping the KT win their first regular season championship in five years with a record of 90 wins, 5 draws, and 49 losses.

A 15-day break from live action was no problem for Hillyard. In the bottom of the first inning, with one out and a runner on first base, he launched a go-ahead, decisive two-run homer over the right field fence against Military Sports Command starter Jin Seung-hyun. In the bottom of the third inning, when leadoff hitter An Hyun-min (23) reached base with a single to center field, Hillyard hit an RBI double over the right fielder's head to create a 5-0 lead. With three hits and three RBIs in three at-bats that day, he showcased the clutch performance expected of the RBI champion.

After the game, Hillyard expressed satisfaction, saying, "Since it was my first live action in a long time, I sometimes got fooled by breaking balls and swung early, but overall, I had a good feel at the plate. I worked hard to make contact with the sweet spot of the bat in every at-bat, and it led to good results." He was not bothered by the cooling weather either. "Once you get into the game, you have to focus and are tense, so I don't even seem to notice the cold," he explained.

The opponent they will face in the Korea Series will be either KIA with Castro or Samsung with Diaz. Whichever team advances, Hillyard's bat is a key weapon that the KT expect to rely on. "In the Korea Series, different pitchers will come out every game, so I am trying to prepare tailored strategies for each opposing pitcher myself," Hillyard emphasized. He added, "Our team has done so well up to this point, so we will maintain that feel and unleash everything we have prepared through training onto the field."

The KT will play two more practice games against the South Korea U-23 national team, which is participating in the 6th World Baseball Classic, on the 28th and 30th, before taking the field for Game 1 of the Korea Series at SuwonKT Wiz Park on November 2.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.View Original