Daejeon: After earning a bye to the penultimate round of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason, the Hanwha Eagles had to wait around for two weeks to see whom they would face in the series. The fourth-seed Samsung Lions earned that right by upsetting No. 3 seed SSG Landers in four games in the previous series. The Lions won the final two games to close out that series, and Eagles skipper Kim Kyung-moon said he will try to end that winning streak Friday night at the start of the new series.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim stated at his pregame media availability at Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark that Samsung's recent performance has been impressive, and it's crucial to stop their momentum from the beginning. This matchup marks the first postseason game for the Eagles since 2018 and also the first one at this newly opened stadium. Kim expressed a desire to reward the club's loyal fans with a victory to kick off the series.
Kim emphasized the importance of the home field advantage, noting that his team performs better at home. The Eagles will host three of the five games if the series extends to full length. He acknowledged the high expectations from fans and assured them that the team would strive to bring joy with a win in the first game.
As the most senior manager in the KBO, Kim, at 66, shared his excitement about returning to the postseason. His managerial career has seen him reach the runner-up position four times, with the last postseason appearance in 2017. Kim highlighted that the role of the manager is to help players stay focused amidst the heightened atmosphere of postseason games, rather than overwhelming them with meetings or speeches.