[Official Announcement] "Despite a Surge in Injuries," Samsung PO Roster of 30 Remains Unchanged for KS! Final Roster Revealed Ahead of Historic First Clash with KT... Closer Kim Jae-yoon "Ultimately" Excluded

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The Samsung Lions have expressed their intention to proceed to the Korea Series (KS) by relying on the same 30 players who advanced through the Playoffs (PO), despite a surge in injuries. The return of closer Kim Jae-yoon (36), who was sidelined due to injury, ultimately did not materialize, while domestic ace Won Tae-in (26) will initially wait in the bullpen. The KT Wiz, aiming for their first unified championship in five years, will also field their strongest lineup for a historic first fall baseball showdown against Samsung.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) officially announced the roster for the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Korea Series on the 2nd. KT, which finished first in the regular season, composed its roster with a total of 41 personnel: one manager, 10 coaches, and 30 players. This includes 12 pitchers, 3 catchers, 8 infielders, and 7 outfielders. Samsung’s roster consists of a total of 40 personnel: one manager, 9 coaches, and 30 players. This includes 13 pitchers, 3 catchers, 7 infielders, and 7 outfielders.

The most notable point is that there are no changes to Samsung’s roster. The team registered all 30 players for the Korea Series without any substitutions from the PO roster announced on the 24th of last month against the KIA Tigers. Ahead of the PO, Samsung closer Kim Jae-yoon was diagnosed with a right rectus femoris muscle and fascia injury, requiring at least two weeks of rest. The absence of the closer, who recorded 35 saves in the regular season, was a significant burden in the short series.

However, Samsung made the strategic move to shift Won Tae-in to the bullpen. In the PO against KIA, Won Tae-in appeared in three games as a relief pitcher, recording one win, no losses, and an ERA of 2.45. He also took the mound in the top of the ninth inning of the decisive Game 5 on the 1st while leading 6-1 to secure the victory.

Samsung included Won Tae-in in the Korea Series roster announced that day. The team maintained its existing pitching staff, including starting resources Chris Fiddick, Ariel Hurdado, and Choi Won-tae, along with Kim Tae-hoon, Lee Seung-hyun, Lee Seung-min, Yang Chang-seop, and Bae Chan-seung.

Won Tae-in’s role will be a key variable in the Korea Series as well. Samsung manager Park Jin-man (50) announced Choi Won-tae (29) as the starting pitcher for Game 1 at the Korea Series media day held at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Suwon on the 2nd. While Won Tae-in will initially be utilized from the bullpen, the possibility of converting him to a starter remains open depending on the early results of the series.

Manager Park designated Won Tae-in as a candidate for the Korea Series Most Valuable Player (MVP), expressing his expectation that he is "a player who can deliver a final roar." Won Tae-in also stated his resolve: "If I am the starter in the game that clinches the championship, I want to finish with a complete game shutout; if I am in the bullpen, I want to close it out with a save."

On the offensive side, captain Koo Ja-wook (33) made the KS roster following his inclusion in the PO. Koo Ja-wook, who has returned from a left hamstring injury, is still assessing his physical condition. There is also interest in how much of his normal performance level Koo Ja-wook, who won the regular season batting championship, will display.

Samsung finished second in the regular season with a record of 83 wins, 3 draws, and 58 losses (winning percentage 0.589). In the PO against KIA, they lost Game 1 but won Games 2 and 3 consecutively. After falling to a 2-2 tie following a loss in Game 4, they secured a decisive 6-1 victory in the final Game 5.

In Game 5, Hurdado pitched well for seven innings, allowing one unearned run. Kim Ji-chan (25) contributed with three hits and three RBIs, while Park Seung-gyu (26) provided two hits and two RBIs. Samsung has advanced to the Korea Series for the first time in two years since 2024, aiming for their first championship in 12 years since 2014.

KT secured a direct berth to the Korea Series by finishing first in the regular season with a record of 90 wins, 5 draws, and 49 losses (winning percentage 0.647). The team is aiming to return to the top for the first time in five years since their inaugural unified championship in 2021.

KT included key players in its roster, including foreign pitchers Daniel Davis and Sam Hilliard, foreign slugger Mel Rojas Jr., as well as core domestic players Go Yeong-pyo, So Hyoung-jun, Park Young-hyun, Jang Sung-woo, Ahn Hyun-min, and Kang Baek-ho.

Daniel will start Game 1 of the Korea Series. Daniel, who joined KT in August last month, recorded five wins, two losses, and an ERA of 2.13 in 10 regular season games. In a practice game against Sangmu on the 27th of last month, he pitched well for five innings with no hits allowed, 10 strikeouts, and zero runs scored, raising expectations. KT manager Lee Kang-cheol (60) expressed confidence in his starting rotation at the media day, stating, "The team that climbed up from below has its batting form rising. The first-place team must rely on pitching strength to hold off in Games 1 and 2."

This is the first time the two teams have faced each other in the postseason. In the 2021 regular season tiebreaker game, KT defeated Samsung 1-0, but Samsung subsequently lost to Doosan in the Playoffs, causing a Korea Series matchup between the two teams to fall through.

In this year’s regular season head-to-head record, Samsung led with nine wins and seven losses. However, KT won all of their last four matchups, shifting the momentum between the two teams. Game 1 of the Korea Series between KT and Samsung will be held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 3rd at 6:30 p.m. Daniel for KT and Choi Won-tae for Samsung will face off as starting pitchers.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original