Why did Samsung Lions manager Park Jin-man bench Kang Min-ho for Game 4 of the Korean Series?

Kang had played eight consecutive postseason games while dealing with an oblique injury, and the Lions had a night game followed by an afternoon game. Park said Kang was close to collapsing and that he wanted to get him off his feet; Kang was also batting 0-for-6 in the series.

Who started behind the plate and on the mound for the Samsung Lions in Game 4?

Kim Do-hwan replaced Kang Min-ho at catcher for his first career postseason start, and 19-year-old Jang Chan-hee made his first postseason start as the pitcher. Manager Park Jin-man said Jang had been fearless on the mound during the regular season and hoped the two young players would bring energy.

Which Samsung Lions pitchers were unavailable in Game 4, and what was the plan if Jang Chan-hee struggled?

Ariel Jurado, who started Friday, Won Tae-win, who was scheduled to start Saturday, and Chris Paddack, who started Wednesday and was slated for Game 6 if needed, were the only pitchers Park said would not take the ball. Park said every other available reliever would be ready to enter immediately if Jang faltered early.

Lions manager benches injured catcher for 1st time in postseason

Listen

Summary

Samsung Lions manager Park Jin-man benched injured catcher Kang Min-ho for the start of Game 4 of the Korean Series in Daegu on Saturday. The move ended Kang’s run of eight consecutive postseason starts as the Lions faced a quick turnaround after Friday’s night game. Kim Do-hwan made his first career postseason start behind 19-year-old pitcher Jang Chan-hee, who was also making his postseason debut. Park said he would have every available reliever ready if Jang struggled early.

Key Facts

Kang was batting 0-for-6 in the series, though Park had kept him in the lineup for his defensive contributions.
Jang was a third-round pick in the 2025 Korea Baseball Organization draft.
The Lions entered Game 4 with a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series after defeating the KT Wiz 5-1 on Friday.
Ariel Jurado, Won Tae-win and Chris Paddack were unavailable to pitch Saturday; Won was scheduled to start, while Paddack was slated for Game 6 if the series went that far.
Park said he became more aggressive with in-game decisions after losing to the Kia Tigers in the 2024 Korean Series.

By Yonhap

Published Nov 7, 2026 3:23 pm KST

Samsung Lions manager Park Jin-man speaks to reporters before Game 4 of the Korean Series against the KT Wiz at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in the southeastern city of Daegu, Saturday. Courtesy of Samsung Lions

DAEGU — After starting eight consecutive postseason games for the Samsung Lions despite dealing with an oblique injury, catcher Kang Min-ho was benched for the start of Game 4 of the Korean Series on Saturday.

Manager Park Jin-man replaced the 41-year-old Kang with the 26-year-old backstop Kim Do-hwan.

The Lions defeated the KT Wiz 5-1 in a Friday evening game to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven championship battle, and the teams will have a quick turnaround for an afternoon game Saturday.

"We have the back-to-back night game and day game, and he was just about to collapse," Park said of Kang, who is batting 0-for-6 in this series but had remained in the lineup for his defensive contributions. "I just felt this was the right time to get him off his feet."

Kim will make his first career postseason start, and he will catch an even younger pitcher in the 19-year-old starter Jang Chan-hee. This is also the first postseason start for Jang, a third-round pick in the 2025 Korea Baseball Organization draft.

"I hope these two will bring some energy out there today," Park said. "Chan-hee has always been a fearless type, regardless of when he takes the mound. I hope he goes right after hitters just like he did during the regular season."

If Jang falters early, Park said he will have every available relief pitcher ready to step in right away. The only three that will not take the ball Saturday are Ariel Jurado, who started Friday; Won Tae-win, who will start Saturday; and Chris Paddack, who started Wednesday and will get the ball for Game 6 on Tuesday if the series goes that far.

Managing in his second Korean Series after losing to the Kia Tigers in 2024, Park said he learned a great deal from that experience.

"After that loss, I decided I should be more aggressive with my in-game decisions," Park said. "I think it is always better to regret doing something than regret not doing anything."

Explore More