“Three straight losses to KIA”: Samsung ace says “It hurts my pride personally, I even wrote it in my diary” — Will this time be different? [PO3 On-site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The pride of the “number one starter” was deeply wounded. But there is no time to sit and sulk. Samsung Lions foreign ace Chris Fedick (30), who filled his diary with reflections and points for improvement, is aiming to restore his honor.

Samsung secured a narrow 6-4 victory over the KIA Tigers in Game 3 of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Postseason Playoffs (PO, best-of-five series) held on the 29th at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field. With this win, Samsung took a 2-1 lead in the series and now needs just one more victory to advance to the Korea Series. The team will play the decisive Game 4 at the same venue on the 30th.

Fedick is the starting pitcher for Game 4. Fedick, who was the losing pitcher in Game 1, is understood to have accepted the request to start. Samsung Manager Park Jin-man emphasized immediately after the Game 3 win, “The regular season is a long race where player management is balanced, but the postseason is a short series,” adding, “We must throw all our strength from the roster into every situation to play games without regret.”

Regarding Fedick, he continued, “I spoke with Fedick about that aspect, and he readily agreed,” stating, “Since there were regrets in Game 1, he strongly wants revenge. I believe that as long as his physical condition is fine, he will fully perform his role on the pitcher's mound.”

Earlier, when met ahead of Game 3, Fedick also shared a unique resolve while reflecting on his poor performance in Game 1. Fedick, who started Game 1 in Daegu, failed to get past the KIA lineup and was removed early. Broadcast footage even captured him entering the dugout with his head down, blaming himself.

Fedick said, “Life is too short (to be discouraged). I must learn to shake it off quickly and move on to the next stage,” while also confessing, “But inside, it really hurt. Especially because there is an expectation that as the ace, I should lead the team to victory in important games like the playoffs.”

He continued, “As we play through the series, I have written down the areas I need to improve in my diary and reflected on them,” adding, “I am well aware that I have a career record of three losses against KIA, including postseason games. It is personally very hurtful to my pride. When I step onto the mound again, I will definitely adjust my pitching to deliver the best possible result.”

He has the will to turn even the unique pressure of the postseason into motivation. Fedick, who also experienced the fall classic stage during his time in Major League Baseball, was deeply impressed by the passionate cheering unique to Korea.

He stated, “Pressure is a privilege,” explaining, “In 2020, I played in a Major League postseason with no fans, and it was really hard to generate energy on my own. The result of Game 1 was not good, but the energy from Samsung fans who chanted my name when I stepped onto the field became an incredible source of strength. Even though this is an away game, I will muster my strength and fight until the end.”

Attention is focused on whether the ace, who suffered a painful three-game losing streak against the Tiger Legion, can write a reversal drama of revenge in Game 4, carrying with him the reflections he wrote in his diary and the firm trust of the manager.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original