Captain Gu Ja-wook, who refused to give up even on an 8-run deficit, hits a .500 average in the Korea Series → Wins his first career MVP! Sprints all the way home on an injured leg to embrace his first championship in 12 years [Samsung V9]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

In Game 1 of the Korea Series (KS), where Samsung was trailing 0-8 and defeat seemed imminent, it was the Samsung Lions captain who fired the opening shot of the counterattack. He then recorded a hit in all five games, delivering crucial blows at every pivotal moment. In the final Game 5, he sprinted with all his might to home plate on an injured leg, even producing the go-ahead run. The bat and fighting spirit of Captain Gu Ja-wook (33) were present as the Samsung Lions climbed to the top for the first time in 12 years.

Gu Ja-wook started Game 5 of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Korea Series (best-of-seven) against KT Wiz on the 8th at Daegu Samsung Lions Park as the third-hitter and designated hitter, recording three hits in five at-bats and one run batted in. Samsung crushed KT 12-1 to win the series 4-1. It was a return to the top for the first time since 2014, marking 12 years, and the first championship since the opening of Daegu Samsung Lions Park.

The honor of Korea Series MVP also went to Gu Ja-wook. In the five games of this series, he posted a .500 batting average (10 hits in 20 at-bats), with one home run, six runs batted in, and five runs scored. He recorded a hit in all five games and personally drove in runs in Game 1 and Games 3 through 5.

He also received overwhelming support in the press corps vote. He was selected as MVP with 72 votes out of a total of 97, securing a voting rate of 74.2%. Park Seung-gyu (26) followed with 19 votes, while Won Tae-in (26) and Lee Seung-min (23) received two votes each, and Kang Min-ho (41) and Ariel Hurdado (29) received one vote each. Gu Ja-wook was awarded the MVP trophy along with a Kia EV4 vehicle as a prize.

In fact, it is no exaggeration to say that Samsung's counterattack toward victory began with Gu Ja-wook's bat. That was the case in Game 1, held in Suwon on the 3rd. Samsung was trailing 0-8 through six innings, facing the crisis of a one-sided defeat. However, with no outs and a runner on first base in the top of the seventh inning, Gu Ja-wook hit a changeup from KT starter Daniel Davis (29) to launch a two-run home run to left-center field.

It was the moment the Samsung lineup woke up. Following that, they scored five runs in that single inning with an infield grounder by Ryu Ji-hyuk and a two-run double by Lee Jae-hyun, among others. In the top of the eighth inning, Gu Ja-wook again reached base on a line drive to right field and scored directly on a wild pitch, narrowing the gap to 7-8.

Although they lost Game 1, the fact that they narrowed an 8-run deficit to just one run, starting with Gu Ja-wook's two-run homer, instilled confidence in the Samsung players. Samsung Manager Park Jin-man (50) also evaluated at the time that "chasing from 0-8 to 7-8 against KT's winning combination was a great gain," stating that they gained the confidence that they could fully turn things around in subsequent games.

In Game 2 on the 4th, Gu Ja-wook continued his hitting form with multiple hits. In particular, he hit consecutive singles with Choi Hyeong-woo (43) and Lewin Diaz (30) in the top of the sixth inning to create a bases-loaded opportunity. Although it did not result in runs, Samsung won 3-2 after a close contest in the 12th inning of extra innings, tying the series.

The profile of a closer who decides games shone even brighter in Game 3. In Game 3, held in Daegu on the 6th, Samsung led 2-1 with two outs and runners on first and third base in the bottom of the second inning. Gu Ja-wook hit a pitch from So Hyoung-jun (25) to launch a massive two-run triple off the top of the right-field wall. It was a decisive scene that extended the lead to 4-1 with a single hit.

Even more surprising was his base running. Despite having difficulty running normally due to a left hamstring injury, Gu Ja-wook gritted his teeth and ran all the way to third base. After settling into third base, he let out a passionate roar, revealing his will toward victory. Samsung won 5-1 to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

The closer was again Gu Ja-wook in Game 4 on the 7th. With Samsung leading 9-4 and one out with a runner on first base in the bottom of the seventh inning, he hit a two-run double directly into the top of the left-center field wall to bring Park Seung-gyu home. Samsung won 10-5, leaving just one win away from the championship.

Gu Ja-wook was at the center of the game in the final Game 5 as well. With Samsung trailing 0-1 and two outs with a runner on first base in the bottom of the third inning, he hit a two-run double along the right-field line to tie the game at 1-1. Following that, Diaz hit a massive RBI single directly into the top of the wall near the right-field foul pole.

Gu Ja-wook, who was on second base, did not hesitate. Even in a situation where his leg was not fully healed, he rounded third base and sprinted all the way to home. It was the decisive run that completed Samsung's 2-1 comeback. Afterward, Samsung decided the game with an eight-run big inning in the bottom of the fifth.

Such performance was even more valuable considering Gu Ja-wook's situation. In this year's regular season, Gu Ja-wook won his first career batting title with a .371 batting average, 15 home runs, 102 runs batted in, and an OPS of 1.039 in 114 games. However, he suffered a left hamstring injury at the end of September, making his postseason appearance uncertain.

After rehabilitation, he returned starting from the playoffs against KIA Tigers, but was not in normal physical condition. It was difficult for him to play outfield defense, so he appeared only as a designated hitter, and managed just a .150 batting average (3 hits in 20 at-bats) in the five playoff games.

The pain from two years ago might have resurfaced. In the 2024 playoffs, Gu Ja-wook injured his left knee medial ligament and was unable to play in the Korea Series. He had to watch his team finish as runner-up. Having also finished as runner-up in the Korea Series in 2015, he took on a third championship challenge this year.

This time was different. Although his body was not fully healed, he played all five games of the Korea Series and fulfilled his role at every decisive moment, from the chasing two-run homer in Game 1 to the winning run toward the championship in Game 5.

Thus, Gu Ja-wook, the youngest player who witnessed the end of the Samsung dynasty from 2011 to 2014, grew into a captain and secured his first Korea Series championship ring in his 15th year of debut, also embracing his first career Korea Series MVP trophy.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original