KIA's Kim Do-young, Samsung's Koo Ja-wook face off as KBO playoff opens in Daegu Oct 25
In short
KIA Tigers and Samsung Lions open their best-of-five KBO playoff on Oct 25 at 14:00 in Daegu, with a place in the Korean Series at stake. Korean outlets frame it as a duel between home run leader Kim Do-young of KIA and batting champion Koo Ja-wook of Samsung. Kim hit three home runs in KIA's three-game sweep of LG in the semi-playoff, while Koo is back from a hamstring injury.
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KIA Tigers and Samsung Lions meet in the KBO playoff, a best-of-five series with three wins needed to reach the Korean Series. Game 1 is on Oct 25 at 14:00 at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu. Korea Economic Daily said it is the first playoff meeting of the two clubs since 1990, 36 years ago. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Korean outlets centre the series on KIA's Kim Do-young (23), who led the regular season with 45 home runs, and Samsung's Koo Ja-wook (33), who won the batting title with a .371 average. Dong-A Ilbo reported that Kim hit three home runs in KIA's three-game semi-playoff sweep of LG, including two in Game 1 on Oct 17 in Gwangju and a 145 m grand slam in Game 3 on Oct 20 at Jamsil. He was named semi-playoff MVP. Chosun Ilbo added that he drove in eight runs in the series. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Kim hit 9 home runs against Samsung this season, and Korea Economic Daily gave his OPS against them as 1.190. He hit 4 home runs in 7 games in Daegu, where the outlets say the ballpark favours hitters. Dong-A Ilbo quoted him as saying he would keep the good mood but go to Daegu with tension. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Koo tore a hamstring on Sept 30 against Hanwha and missed the rest of the regular season. He has since returned to game action. Dong-A Ilbo said he played as designated hitter in an internal scrimmage on Oct 19. Chosun Ilbo dated that game Oct 22. Koo hit .340 against KIA this season, according to Korea Economic Daily and Chosun Ilbo. Dong-A Ilbo reported that he is seeking to end his 'autumn nightmare': he was injured in the 2024 playoff against LG and missed the Korean Series, which Samsung lost to KIA. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Chosun Ilbo noted that KIA used some of its pitching strength in the semi-playoff, including Naile, Oller and Jeon Sang-hyeon (전상현), and that manager Lee Bum-ho said KIA would play aggressively as challenger. It also reported that the 43-year-old Choi Hyung-woo, who left KIA for Samsung this year, is mentioned as a likely replacement in left field if Koo is used as designated hitter. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The winner of the five-game series (first to three wins) advances to the Korean Series, according to the outlets. The coverage rests on the two stars' form and injury status, and on how each side's pitching is used.
Key facts
- The KIA-Samsung playoff, a best-of-five series with three wins needed, opens on Oct 25 at 14:00 at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Kim Do-young (23, KIA) led the regular season with 45 home runs. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Koo Ja-wook (33, Samsung) won the batting title with a .371 average. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Kim hit three home runs in the three-game semi-playoff sweep of LG, including a 145 m grand slam in Game 3 on Oct 20 at Jamsil, and was named semi-playoff MVP. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Koo tore a hamstring on Sept 30 against Hanwha and missed the rest of the regular season. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Against Samsung this season Kim hit 9 home runs, and he hit 4 in 7 games in Daegu. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- KIA won the regular-season series against Samsung 9 wins to 7, according to Chosun Ilbo. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The playoff opens on Oct 25 in Daegu and is best-of-five, three wins needed. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Kim Do-young hit three home runs in KIA's three-game semi-playoff sweep of LG, including a 145 m grand slam on Oct 20. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Koo Ja-wook suffered a hamstring injury on Sept 30 and has returned to game action in an internal scrimmage. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Kim Do-young hit 4 home runs in Daegu this season. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- When Koo Ja-wook played in the internal scrimmage. Dong-A Ilbo and Korea Economic Daily say Oct 19, with Dong-A giving one hit in three at-bats and a walk. Chosun Ilbo says Oct 22 and two hits.
- Whether Kim's 145 m grand slam is the longest postseason home run. Dong-A Ilbo says no postseason hitter has hit one farther since distances were first recorded in 2000, and that a 2001 shot by Doosan's Woods ties it. Chosun Ilbo calls it the longest in postseason history.
- Who will play left field if Koo is used as designated hitter. Chosun Ilbo names Choi Hyung-woo (43) as the likely replacement, without confirmation.
- Which pitchers start Games 1 and 2. Korea Economic Daily says Samsung is expected to use Chris Pedek (크리스 페덱) and Ariel Jurado (아리엘 후라도) and KIA James Naile (제임스 네일) and Adam Oller (아담 올러). It describes these as projections.