Why did Park Jin-man believe the Samsung Lions could carry momentum into the Korean Series against the KT Wiz?

Park said the Lions had just won the deciding game against the Kia Tigers and would play again almost immediately. He also said the team’s experience in the 2024 and 2025 postseasons had helped its players take big steps.

How much of an advantage did the KT Wiz have over the Samsung Lions in rest before the Korean Series?

The Wiz had not played since their final regular-season game on Oct. 12, after earning a direct place in the Korean Series as the regular-season’s best team. The Lions played the deciding fifth game against the Kia Tigers on Sunday and had one day off before the championship round.

What was Kang Min-ho’s condition and postseason performance before the Korean Series?

The 41-year-old catcher was dealing with an unidentified injury but had not missed an inning in the postseason. He hit.267 and scored twice in the Lions’ previous series, while Park described him as an indispensable player who wanted to keep playing.

Lions manager Park Jin-man confident momentum behind his club in Korean Series

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Summary

Samsung Lions manager Park Jin-man said Tuesday in Suwon that his team was entering the Korean Series against the KT Wiz with confidence and momentum after beating the Kia Tigers in a five-game series. The Lions had only one day off before the championship round, while the Wiz had been idle since Oct. 12 after finishing first in the regular season. Park acknowledged that top seeds have won about 86 percent of Korean Series in KBO history, but said the Lions’ recent postseason experience could help. Catcher Kang Min-ho was playing through an unidentified injury while seeking his first championship in his 23rd KBO season.

Key Facts

The Lions finished second in the regular season, while the KT Wiz earned a bye to the Korean Series by posting the KBO’s best regular-season record.
Samsung’s previous postseason run included a runner-up finish in the 2024 Korean Series and a trip to the penultimate round in 2025.
Kang Min-ho batted.267 and scored twice in the Lions’ preceding series against the Kia Tigers.
Park said Kang was far from 100 percent but had not missed an inning during the postseason.
Park said the Lions’ core of players had remained virtually the same through their recent postseason appearances.

By Yonhap

Published Nov 3, 2026 5:41 pm KST

Samsung Lions manager Park Jin-man speaks during a KBO Korean Series media day in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. Yonhap

Samsung Lions manager Park Jin-man said Tuesday he felt confident the momentum was fully behind his side entering the Korean baseball championship round against the KT Wiz.

The Wiz, thanks to posting the best record in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) regular season, earned a bye to the Korean Series. They have not played since their last regular-season game on Oct. 12.

The Lions, who finished in second place in the regular season, knocked off the Kia Tigers in a hard-fought series last week, with the best-of-five showdown going the distance. The Lions played the clinching fifth game Sunday and had just one day off before starting the Korean Series.

Despite the lack of rest, Park said he likes where his team is at the moment.

"I think the pressure is always on the team waiting for their opponent," Park said at his pregame media availability at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, some 30 kilometers south of Seoul. "I think we are going in feeling great about ourselves after winning the clinching game the other day. I think we will be able to ride that momentum because we will get to play almost right away. And postseason games are often about momentum."

Park acknowledged the odds are stacked against the Lions, though. In KBO history, the No. 1 seeds have won the Korean Series about 86 percent of the time. But Park also said his players' recent postseason experience — they also played in the 2024 Korean Series and went to the penultimate round in 2025, with virtually the same core of players — should work in their favor on the big stage.

"As manager, I have learned a great deal from the past two postseasons, and our players have also taken big steps," Park said. "After finishing as the runners-up in 2024, our guys are really fired up to get it done this time."

One player particularly desperate for a championship ring is catcher Kang Min-ho, who is still searching for his first title in his 23rd KBO season.

He has been battling through an unidentified injury through the postseason and has not missed an inning. He batted .267 and scored twice in the previous series.

"He is far from 100 percent but he has a strong desire to win his first championship," Park said of his 41-year-old backstop. "He just wants to keep playing. And he is an indispensable part of our team."

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