KBO League postseason action opened with a weather delay on October 25, 2026, as rain forced the postponement of Game 1 between the Samsung Lions and the Kia Tigers at Daegu Samsung Lions Park. Samsung manager Park Jin-man confirmed that star hitter Koo Ja-wook was fully cleared to play as the designated hitter prior to the washout, setting up a critical lineup boost for the Lions ahead of the rescheduled opener.
Goo Ja-wook Returns to the Lineup After Hamstring Injury
Koo enters the postseason following an elite regular-season campaign where he batted .371 with 15 home runs and 102 RBIs across 114 games, pacing the league in both batting average and on-base percentage at .458. The Samsung Lions outfielder suffered a left hamstring strain on September 30 during a game against the Hanwha Eagles, sustaining a 0.5-to-1-centimeter muscle tear that sidelined him for the final weeks of the regular schedule. According to team management, the rehabilitation process cleared the four-time Golden Glove winner to resume batting and running without restriction.
Batting is completely fine. There is a big difference whether Koo Ja-wook is in the batting lineup or not,
Park Jin-man told reporters before the postponement, noting that Koo was slated to start as the third-place designated hitter.
Kia Tigers and Samsung Lions Reschedule Game One
Persistent rainfall over Daegu forced KBO officials to push Game 1 of the best-of-five playoff series to October 26 at 6:30 p.m. local time at Daegu Samsung Lions Park. Park noted that the delay allowed both playoff contenders extra rest while emphasizing the need for suitable field conditions. Despite the postponement, Samsung confirmed that foreign right-hander Chris Fedde remains the scheduled starting pitcher for the opening contest.
While Koo returns to anchor the offense, Samsung veteran outfielder Choi Hyung-woo was left out of the initial starting lineup. Park explained that the decision prioritized defensive alignment for the opening game of a short series, though the manager acknowledged that Choi remains a primary option off the bench in late-inning situations requiring a bat.
Bullpen Adjustments Following Kim Jae-yoon Injury
Samsung enters the postseason without relief ace Kim Jae-yoon, who captured 35 saves with a 3.22 ERA during the regular season. Kim was left off the playoff roster due to a right anterior thigh muscle injury that rules him out for the entirety of the series, including a potential appearance in the Korean Series if the Lions advance.
A sudden variable has occurred, but the closer role is not yet fixed,
Park said regarding the late-inning vacuum, adding that the coaching staff will deploy available arms flexibly based on game state and opponent matchups. Park highlighted right-hander Lee Seung-min as a primary relief option designated to handle high-pressure trouble spots out of the bullpen.
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