Samsung coach Park Jin-man, “We have the same stamina and senses… We will fight with all our might.”

(Daegu = Yonhap News) Reporters Byeong-hyuk Cheon and Dae-ho Lee = Samsung Lions coach Jin-man Park declared a head-to-head match in the playoffs (PO, 3 wins out of 5), which starts a day later.

Coach Park Jin-man said ahead of the game against the KIA Tigers in the first round of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO postseason playoffs held at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on the 26th, "(due to the long break) both teams have started on the same level in terms of physical strength and sense of the game," and added, "Now, it is a situation where the two teams have to face off 'strength against strength.'"

KIA, who defeated the LG Twins with 3 wins and 0 losses in the semi-playoffs, had a total of 5 days off as even the first game of the playoffs was postponed due to rain.

Coach Park Jin-man said, "The physical advantage has disappeared, but our sense of the game can be better. We played the Blue and White match more recently. Our batting pace, which had dropped at the end of the season, has also improved a lot."

On this day, Samsung announced the starting lineup for the first game, consisting of Ji-chan Kim (center fielder), Seong-yoon Kim (right fielder), Ja-wook Koo (designated hitter), Lewin Diaz (first baseman), Seung-gyu Park (left fielder), Min-ho Kang (catcher), Young-woong Kim (third baseman), Jae-hyeon Lee (shortstop), and Ji-hyuk Ryu (second baseman).

Compared to the previous day, the batting order of Park Seung-gyu and Kang Min-ho were reversed.

Coach Park said, “I thought about it while watching the rain all night, but I decided to change the batting order.”

Regarding Koo Ja-wook, who left the team at the end of the season due to a thigh injury and is now playing as a designated hitter, he said, “My physical condition has improved a lot, but it is difficult for me to sprint.”

Veteran Choi Hyeong-woo, who was excluded from the starting lineup in place of Koo Ja-wook, predicted that he would be brought in late in the game.

Coach Park said, “Choi Hyeong-woo is a player who has played in many big games,” and “I told him to prepare because you never know when he will go on defense.”

On the other hand, regarding KIA Kim Do-young, who hit three decisive home runs in the semi-playoffs, he said, "When you fight head-on, you have to do it, and when you dodge it, you have to avoid it," and said that he would instruct the game department on a response plan.