‘Ace of Blue Blood’ Won Tae-in: Will he still not start in the KS? Waiting on the bullpen in Suwon, uncertain even after moving to Daegu — “Depending on the results of Games 1 and 2…” [KS Media Day Scene]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

To secure a 73.8% championship probability, even the homegrown ace is heading to the bullpen. The Samsung Lions, challenging for their first Korea Series (KS, best-of-seven) title in 12 years, have thrown down the gauntlet by deploying “Ace of Blue Blood” Won Tae-in (26) as a relief pitcher in Games 1 and 2.

Samsung Manager Park Jin-man (50) revealed his plan for utilizing Won Tae-in at the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Korea Series Media Day held on the 2nd at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province.

The KT Wiz and Samsung Lions will begin the Korea Series with Game 1 at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 3rd. This marks the first postseason meeting between the two teams in history. Since KT entered the first division in 2015, only the 2021 and 2024 seasons saw both teams advance to the fall baseball playoffs together.

The advantage lies with the top-seeded KT. Unlike Samsung, which played through five games in the Playoffs, KT has enjoyed ample rest for about three weeks since the 12th of last month. To make matters worse, Samsung is suffering from injuries among key players such as Koo Ja-wook (33), Choi Hyeong-woo (43), and Kang Min-ho (41), and cannot use ace Ariel Hurdado (29) in Games 1 and 2. The two teams have announced Davis Daniel (29, KT) and Choi Won-tae (29, Samsung) as their respective starting pitchers for Game 1.

With a Game 1 victory becoming even more critical for Samsung, Manager Park Jin-man announced that he would use Won Tae-in out of the bullpen, similar to the Playoffs. In the history of the Korea Series, the team winning Game 1 has gone on to win the championship in 31 out of 42 instances, a rate of 73.8%. Given the importance of seizing the high ground in the opening game, Samsung is determined not to hold back its sure card, Won Tae-in.

Manager Park stated, “First, our goal in Games 1 and 2 is one win and one loss, so depending on the situation, (Won) Tae-in will likely have to keep waiting in the bullpen.” He added, “In the Playoffs, we rotated through three starters, but the Korea Series clearly requires more starting pitching. Depending on the results of Games 1 and 2, Tae-in may enter as a starter.”

For Samsung, it is also an unavoidable choice. Samsung, which finished second in the regular season with a record of 83 wins, 3 draws, and 58 losses, lost closer Kim Jae-yoon (36) before even starting the fall baseball playoffs. Kim was a core asset who earned his first career saves title this year with 35 saves, a 7-5 record in 64 games, and an ERA of 3.22. Notably, he had been strong against this year’s Korea Series opponent, KT, posting a 1.42 ERA with 5 saves in 7 regular season games.

However, on the 24th of last month, he was diagnosed with damage to his right quadriceps muscle and fascia, requiring at least two weeks of rest. He was also excluded from the Playoffs roster. For Samsung, which had shown instability as its bullpen ERA surged late in the regular season, this was a painful setback.

Ultimately, Manager Park chose Won Tae-in. Drafted by Samsung with the first overall pick in 2019, Won recorded a 7-9 record and a 4.52 ERA in 26 games during this year’s regular season. Although he had been a starting pitcher responsible for 145⅓ innings, he accepted the request to switch to the bullpen immediately after Kim Jae-yoon’s injury.

The effect was certain. Won took the mound in the ninth inning of Game 2 of the Playoffs against the KIA Tigers while leading 8-3, pitching one scoreless inning with two strikeouts to end the game. In Game 3, he pitched 1⅔ innings and earned the win. On the 1st, in the decisive Game 5, he took the mound in the ninth inning to secure Samsung’s advancement to the Korea Series. His final Playoffs record was 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA, striking out six batters in 3⅔ innings. He fulfilled his role even in an unfamiliar position.

Won Tae-in also acknowledged the difficulty of the bullpen. At the media day, he confessed, “It has been a long time since I pitched from the bullpen, and it is truly a tough spot. Since I experienced it once in the Playoffs, I made some changes to my routine.”

He continued, “I believe that in the Korea Series, we must throw better and more powerful pitches than in the Playoffs to shut down opponents. I need to manage my condition well to live up to the manager’s trust.”

Manager Park also has high expectations. When asked about candidates for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of this Korea Series, he named Won Tae-in without hesitation. Manager Park said, “He is performing well in the middle innings, and while we do not know how the final game will unfold, he is a player capable of delivering a final roar, so I think Won Tae-in will receive it.”

Won Tae-in also dreams of that final moment. He said, “If I start the game that clinches the championship, I want to finish with a starting win. If the manager uses me out of the bullpen, I want to record a save in the final situation.” He added, “My desire to stand on the mound at the very last moment of a championship is immense.”

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original