Fedex Keeps His Promise of a Championship: "I Looked Forward to This Moment → I Pitched with the Thought That My Struggles in Game 1 of the Playoffs Cannot Define Me" [Samsung V9]

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The bold ambition he voiced upon joining mid-season was by no means empty talk. Samsung Lions foreign ace Chris Fedex (30) displayed superhuman fighting spirit, ultimately bringing the championship trophy to his home base in Daegu.

On the 8th, at Daegu Samsung Lions Park, Samsung defeated the KT Wiz 12-1 in Game 5 of the "2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Korea Series (KS)," securing a series record of four wins and one loss to finally clinch the championship. It was a moment when they reclaimed the throne of the Korea Series for the first time in 12 years, since the 2014 season.

Fedex truly burned brightly on this autumn baseball stage. Not only did he start every game throughout the postseason, throwing nearly 300 pitches over 10 days, but he also showed dedication by taking the mound from the bullpen in Game 5 of the Korea Series, directly completing the team's championship.

It was a series of grueling schedules. Fedex started Game 1 of the Playoffs (PO) against the KIA Tigers on October 26, throwing 94 pitches but leaving behind a disappointing result of four and two-thirds innings and five runs allowed.

However, he did not crumble. Speaking to reporters on the scene immediately after clinching the championship, Fedex said regarding his poor performance in Game 1, "It was like a lesson in life. I refused to let failure define me," adding, "No matter what happens in life, you must get back up, hold your head high, believe in yourself, and move forward. Because there were teammates who emotionally supported me when I was mentally struggling, I was able to finish the season beautifully."

Fedex, who took the disappointment of Game 1 as a turning point for awakening, rested for only three days before pitching in PO Game 4 on the 30th, recording 99 pitches. It did not end there. After another four days of rest, he started KS Game 2 held on the 4th, throwing 102 pitches to deliver a seven-inning, one-run performance that laid the foundation for a 3-2 victory in the 12th inning of extra innings.

He started three times in ten days, throwing exactly 295 pitches. It was an extreme schedule he had never experienced in his career. However, what sustained Fedex was his strong mental fortitude. A native of Texas, he mentioned his role model, the legendary "Iron Arm" Nolan Ryan, saying emphatically, "Ryan also rested for three days and prepared to start. I thought, 'He did it, so why can't I?'"

This "Texas fighting spirit" reached its peak in the long-awaited KS Game 5. Immediately after winning Game 4 the previous day, Fedex had already made up his mind to pitch from the bullpen in Game 5. He said, "After clinching the win yesterday, I intended to ask my manager first for an opportunity to pitch if we were leading today," adding, "But the analytics team and coaches asked me before I could, 'Can you go to the bullpen tomorrow if needed?' and I answered without a shred of hesitation, 'Absolutely.'"

Fedex, who took the mound from the bullpen in the top of the sixth inning before his starting fatigue had fully subsided, solely shouldered the remaining four innings after Won Tae-in pitched five innings. It was a longer stretch than initially expected. Fedex said, "I did not hear that I would pitch four innings from the start. I thought if everything went perfectly, (Won) Tae-in would pitch six innings and I would throw the remaining three," while explaining, "After the fifth inning, we were leading by 10 runs, so I came up to the mound early. The bench knew that in a situation where we were leading significantly, I would come up and give everything. Thanks to keeping my pitch count low, I was able to handle four innings and clinch the championship."

Fedex on the mound finally gifted Samsung a championship. He fulfilled the promise he made upon joining this summer at the most dramatic moment possible. Finally, Fedex expressed his emotional feelings, saying, "When the season ends and I return to Texas, I will have some jet lag, but right now, popping champagne with teammates with whom I built friendships over the past four months feels incredible," adding, "Above all, when I first came here in July, I promised the fans that I would bring them a championship, and I am so happy to be able to keep that promise directly."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original