'FA is just around the corner, really?' The Daegu local boys who are serious about fall baseball: Koo Ja-wook and Won Tae-in's tearful fighting spirit

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

It is a timing when one might be expected to hold back physically. It is even more so if entry into the FA (free agent) market, where a once-in-a-lifetime major contract hangs in the balance for a pro athlete, is just around the corner. 'Captain' Koo Ja-wook (33), whose non-FA multi-year contract is set to expire, and 'Ace' Won Tae-in (26), who is on the verge of earning FA eligibility for the first time in his life. But for these two Daegu local boys, there is no sound of personal contracts or doing the math. There is only the victory in fall baseball right before their eyes and a sincere dedication to the team.

Samsung secured an 8-3 decisive win over KIA in the second game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Postseason Playoffs (PO, best-of-five series) held on the 27th at Daegu Samsung Lions Park. Although they conceded the first run, they quickly turned the tables and leveraged their formidable firepower to claim a victory at home. With this win, Samsung evened the series score at one win and one loss, allowing them to approach the third game as an away match in Gwangju with light steps.

Koo Ja-wook was undoubtedly at the center of that counterattack. This season, Koo Ja-wook played a key role as Samsung's core hitter, capturing the batting champion title with an overwhelming record of a .371 batting average (156 hits in 420 at-bats), 15 home runs, 102 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.039 across 114 regular season games. However, he suffered a left hamstring injury (tendon damage at the origin of the long head of the biceps femoris) during a second base slide in the Daegu Hanwha game on September 30 near the end of the season, forcing him out of the lineup. Although a long-term absence was a concern, he showed fighting spirit by making an immediate return to the lineup starting from the first playoff game thanks to his remarkable recovery.

Koo Ja-wook is essentially guarding the batter's box in a less-than-perfect physical state. Running around the field while dealing with leg pain and discomfort, he revealed after the second playoff game, "I have a lot of wrapping on my legs, so they don't lift well," adding, "I cannot say my condition is 100%." Nevertheless, he stated, "There is no problem at all with hitting. I made good contact yesterday and today, and it seems my feel for the bat is not bad either."

Those words were proven as-is on the field. Koo Ja-wook's bat also shone in important moments against KIA on the 27th. With the score tied at 1-1 and two outs with a runner on second in the bottom of the third inning, he hit a 151 km/h fastball from KIA starter Adam Oller for an RBI single that cut through the gap between center and right field. As second base runner Park Seung-gyu reached home, Samsung took a 2-1 lead. Following this, Lewin Diaz's two-run home run erupted, resulting in four runs scored in the third inning alone.

Koo Ja-wook also shook up the opposing mound with his on-base performance. With Samsung leading 4-1 and two outs with a runner on first in the bottom of the fifth inning, he drew a walk against relief pitcher Lee Yi-ri. This set the stage for valuable additional runs, following Diaz's hit-by-pitch and Choi Hyeong-woo's bases-loaded walk. It was a moment when he completed a multi-on-base performance by drawing a walk after an RBI hit.

If Koo Ja-wook was in the lineup, Won Tae-in stood firm on the mound. The routine he had strictly maintained as a starting pitcher was all set aside before the particularities of fall baseball. This was because closer Kim Jae-yoon (36) was also absent. Ahead of the second game, Won Tae-in resolved, "While my starting routine has been disrupted, I cannot adjust everything to myself in a short series," adding, "No matter what the situation is, if the team tells me to go out, I will go out and pitch hard."

Previously, Samsung Manager Park Jin-man (50) requested Won Tae-in to take on the role of temporary closer for the short series. Regarding this, Won Tae-in explained directly, "The manager made a request, and I have also thought that I cannot insist on only doing the role I have always done in short series." He continued, "I also had a strong desire to make up for my sluggishness in the regular season. If it can help the team advance to the Korea Series, I naturally think I should do it, so although it is just a few days, I prepared a lot as a bullpen pitcher."

Won Tae-in took the mound in the top of the ninth inning of the second playoff game on the 27th with an 8-3 lead. Even though it was not a save situation, he completed his assigned mission 100% with one scoreless inning and two strikeouts. Although it was completely different from his usual starting preparation routine, the full-power pitching he unleashed on the mound was actually more formidable.

Franchise stars who were born and raised in Daegu and established themselves as the heart of the Lion Army. Even at a critical juncture where major contracts and their futures are at stake, the dedication of these two local boys, who do not hold back physically and throw themselves for the team, is heavily supporting Samsung's fall. Attention is focused on whether their fighting spirit will continue in Gwangju, where the third and fourth playoff games will be held.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original