"(In a) poor condition, largely unchanged" Kang Min-ho, KS Game 1 appearance to be determined! With Koo Ja-wook's injury and 43-year-old Choi Hyeong-woo even at left field, 'What will happen to Samsung?'

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Another concern has emerged for the Samsung Lions, who are challenging for their first championship in 12 years. Following captain Koo Ja-wook (33) and veteran Choi Hyeong-woo (43), even the team's anchor catcher Kang Min-ho (41) is not in normal physical condition. With one day remaining until the first game of the Korea Series (KS, best-of-seven series), the physical conditions of three key players have emerged as the biggest variable.

Samsung Manager Park Jin-man (50) stated at the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Korea Series Media Day held on the 2nd at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, when asked about Kang Min-ho's participation in Game 1, "I checked again today (the 2nd), and it seems his condition has not changed much. Since he played all the playoff games in a poor physical condition, I think we need to confirm until tomorrow to decide on his appearance."

It is unexpected news. Kang Min-ho started as the catcher through the final Game 5 of the playoffs against the KIA Tigers on the 1st, leading Samsung to the Korea Series. However, it turned out he had been suffering from severe side pain.

After the end of Playoffs Game 5, Kang Min-ho met with reporters and revealed, "My side was not good, making it difficult to take full swings," adding, "If I rest here just because it hurts, there is no guarantee that we will make it to the Korea Series again."

There are reasons for this. In his 23rd professional season, Kang Min-ho achieved the KBO League's first-ever milestone of 2,500 career appearances this year, but he still does not have a championship ring. He also shed tears after losing to KIA in his first Korea Series appearance in 2024. In this year's regular season, he recorded a .267 batting average (81 hits in 303 at-bats), 13 home runs, 58 RBIs, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of 0.798 in 111 games. In the playoffs against KIA, he left a .267 batting average (4 hits in 15 at-bats) over five games.

More important than hitting is his presence in the dugout. With Kim Jae-yoon injured, Samsung shifted Won Tae-in to the bullpen as well, making the catcher's role in pitching management more important than ever. The battery composition could change depending on whether Kang Min-ho plays.

Captain Koo Ja-wook is also not fully fit. Koo Ja-wook, who won his first batting title this year with a .371 batting average (156 hits in 420 at-bats), 15 home runs, 102 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.039 in 114 regular season games, injured his left hamstring late in the season. Even after returning from Playoffs Game 1, he struggled with a .150 batting average (3 hits in 20 at-bats) and 2 RBIs over five games. Most importantly, outfield defense was difficult for him, forcing him to play as a designated hitter.

Koo Ja-wook explained on this day, "First of all, it seems there is no problem with my daily life right now. Playing in the game is up to what the manager instructs, so I am continuously checking my physical condition."

Koo Ja-wook's injury also became a burden for Choi Hyeong-woo. After Samsung's lineup managed only two hits in Playoffs Game 1, they deployed Choi Hyeong-woo at left field starting from Game 2. This was no small change for the 43rd-year-old veteran who usually plays as a designated hitter.

Manager Park revealed his concerns, saying, "Choi Hyeong-woo played defense continuously except for Playoffs Game 1. He has not played that much in the regular season either, and he keeps saying from the side that it is very difficult," adding, "Considering that the Suwon stadium is large, I think we need to arrange tomorrow's lineup accordingly."

Even so, Choi Hyeong-woo is Samsung's biggest hope. Recording a .301 batting average (148 hits in 491 at-bats), 18 home runs, and 106 RBIs in 137 games this year, Choi Hyeong-woo also performed brilliantly in the playoffs with a .385 batting average (5 hits in 13 at-bats), 2 home runs, and 4 RBIs over four games.

In particular, in Playoffs Game 2, he recorded a home run and an outfield assist, leading Samsung's counterattack. In Game 4 as well, he demonstrated immense presence by setting a new record for the oldest postseason home run.

Samsung finished second in this year's regular season with a record of 83 wins, 3 draws, and 58 losses, then defeated KIA in the playoffs after going to five games with a 3-2 victory. They held a 9-7 advantage in head-to-head matchups against KT, who took first place in the regular season with a record of 90 wins, 5 draws, and 49 losses. However, they lost all of their last four meetings.

The importance of the first game cannot be overstated. In the history of the Korea Series, the team that won Game 1 went on to win the championship in 31 out of 42 instances, a rate of 73.8%. Samsung will field Choi Won-tae (29) as their starting pitcher in Game 1, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on the 3rd at Suwon KT Wiz Park, facing off against KT's Daniel Davis (29).

The silver lining is that the players' willpower is strong. Koo Ja-wook stated his resolve, saying, "When I first experienced the Korea Series as a rookie in 2015, it was very scary and difficult. Now, I feel like I can approach the games with fun and enjoyment, like a festival."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original