KT's first-ever manager throws the ceremonial pitch, and Samsung's first retired number holder catches it! Former managers Cho Beom-hyun and Lee Man-su confirmed to throw and catch for Game 2 of the Korea Series... Geumi to sing the national anthem [KS2 On-site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The first manager who started the history of KT Wiz and the first player to have his number retired by Samsung Lions will meet on the stage of the Korea Series (KS). Former KT manager Cho Beom-hyun (66) will throw the ball, and Samsung's legendary catcher "Hulk" Lee Man-su (68) will catch it.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) officially announced, "Former manager Cho Beom-hyun has been selected as the ceremonial pitcher, and Lee Man-su as the ceremonial catcher for Game 2 of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Korea Series (best-of-seven), which will be held at Suwon KT Wiz Park at 6:30 p.m. on the 4th. Singer Geumi (45) will sing the national anthem."

The combination of the two men makes the significance of this Korea Series even more special. This is the first time KT and Samsung have faced each other in the postseason. Important figures from the history of each team will stand side by side on the field.

Former manager Cho Beom-hyun was appointed as the first manager of newly established KT in 2013 and led the first division from 2015 to 2016. Prior to that, he served as manager of SK Wyverns (now SSG Landers) and KIA Tigers, leading KIA to a Korea Series championship in 2009. At KT, he laid the foundation for the team as its first manager, and has contributed to the development of Korean baseball by serving as manager of the national baseball team and chairman of the KBO Technical Committee.

Lee Man-su is a representative catcher in Korean baseball who has been active since Samsung's founding year. He recorded the first hit and home run when professional baseball launched in 1982, and achieved the first batting Triple Crown in KBO League history with a .340 batting average, 23 home runs, and 80 RBIs in 1984.

He won the Golden Glove Award for catchers five consecutive years from 1983 to 1987, and was selected as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the regular season in 1983. Samsung designated his jersey number 22 as the team's first retired number.

Game 2, where two legends meet, is a crucial contest for both teams. In Game 1 held the previous day (the 3rd), KT defeated Samsung 8-7. KT took an 8-0 lead by the end of the sixth inning, powered by Sam Hilliard's go-ahead two-run double and home runs by An Hyun-min and Kim Hyun-soo.

However, Samsung did not back down easily. They scored five runs in the seventh inning, led by a two-run home run by Koo Ja-wook, and added two more in the eighth to close the gap to one run. KT closer Park Young-hyun (23) took the mound with bases loaded and one out in the eighth, pitching 1⅔ innings to secure a narrow victory. Consequently, among 42 Korea Series instances in history, the team that won Game 1 went on to win the championship in 31 cases, giving KT a 73.8% probability advantage.

The starting pitchers for Game 2 are KT's Ko Young-pyo (35) and Samsung's Chris Fedde (30). Ko Young-pyo is the winning percentage leader who recorded 15 wins and 7 losses with an ERA of 3.28 in 29 games during this year's regular season. In particular, he was strong against Samsung, going 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA in four matchups. Fedde, facing him, has recorded 7 wins and 3 losses with an ERA of 2.95 in 13 games. After pitching well for 5⅓ innings while allowing one run in Game 4 of the playoffs against KIA on the 30th of last month, he will return to the mound after resting for four days.

For Game 2, KT has set its batting order as follows: Choi Won-jun (right fielder) - Kim Min-hyuk (left fielder) - An Hyun-min (designated hitter) - Sam Hilliard (center fielder) - Kim Hyun-soo (first baseman) - Ryu Hyeon-in (second baseman) - Heo Kyung-min (third baseman) - Han Seung-taek (catcher) - Jang Jun-won (shortstop). Kim Hyun-soo, who felt pain in his left thumb during Game 1, is participating normally, and Ryu Hyeon-in has started at second base instead of Kim Sang-su.

Samsung, which showed late-game offensive power in Game 1, is launching a counterattack to even the series. On this day, Samsung has arranged its batting order as follows: Kim Ji-chan (center fielder) - Kim Seong-yoon (right fielder) - Koo Ja-wook (designated hitter) - Choi Hyeong-woo (left fielder) - Lewin Diaz (first baseman) - Ryu Ji-hyun (second baseman) - Lee Jae-hyun (shortstop) - Kim Young-woong (third baseman) - Kang Min-ho (catcher).

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original