Lions pitcher Paddack proud of making good on championship promise: 'That was something special'

By Yoo Jee-ho

DAEGU, Nov. 8 (Yonhap) -- When former major league pitcher Chris Paddack joined the Samsung Lions in July, he promised fans of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club that he would deliver them a title.

On Sunday, Paddack made good on that, pitching the final four innings of the Lions' 12-1 win over the KT Wiz in clinching Game 5 of the Korean Series.

Paddack had thrown seven innings of one-run ball in a start in Game 2 last Wednesday and then came back out to toss four perfect innings for a rare 12-out save in a blowout.

He struck out Jang Sung-woo to punctuate the championship win, and got to celebrate the title with catcher Kang Min-ho, who earned the first title of his 23-year career.

"That was something special," Paddack said of the final strikeout. "It's what you dream of as a kid. It's just a surreal moment that I got the opportunity to be the guy on the mound for the last out to secure the championship that I promised these fans back in July. It meant a lot being able to hug Min-ho there at the end. Knowing I was a part of his first championship was very special and something I will remember for the rest of my life."

Paddack started this year with the Miami Marlins and also went on to pitch for the Cincinnati Reds and the Texas Rangers before flying across the Pacific to land in the KBO.

When asked if he could have imagined being a Korean Series champion in November after the kind of year he had in the United States, Paddack said with a smile, "It wasn't in my deck of cards."

"It is crazy where things can take you in life, with opportunities that present themselves," he added. "It was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life, being able to come over here to a new country, a new culture with new people. And they have welcomed me with open arms. I hope that this continues next year, if I get the opportunity to come back."

By the time Paddack took the ball from starter Won Tae-in, the Lions were up 11-1. Paddack said his plan was to take it "inning by inning" and not get caught up in the score.

"I just told myself to be in the moment, be present, don't look at the scoreboard," he said. "At the end of the day, baseball can throw you curveballs. So don't let my guard down, and just go out there and compete. Obviously, with two outs in the ninth, I knew what was happening. I tried to collect my emotions. Just seeing the energy shift on our side and being able to get the final out was very special."

Paddack said he had never won a state championship in high school or in Little League, and his teams had not gone deep in postseasons in the majors.

"This right here is definitely at the top of the chain for me," he said. "It is something I will remember for the rest of my life."