Incheon: After enjoying the best regular season of his three-year career in South Korean baseball, SSG Landers reliever Lee Ro-un found himself on the verge of his first postseason appearance Thursday. The 21-year-old right-hander is determined to take much the same mindset into the upcoming series against the Samsung Lions in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason that he had throughout the regular season.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee has developed into one of the KBO’s top setup men by posting a 1.99 ERA in 75 outings. He recorded a career-best 33 holds while pitching in tight, high-leverage situations. Although Lee has been on postseason rosters in the past, he has never pitched in any October game yet. His standing within the bullpen pecking order has changed so dramatically this year that any game he enters will most likely be a high-stakes affair where he will be tasked with protecting the team’s lead.
Lee expressed confidence about handling the pressure of postseason games, stating, “I am not nervous at all. I overcame so many tough situations during the season, and I think that’s how I was able to put up the numbers that I did. I think I’ll be OK if I just keep pitching like I did in the regular season.”
Throughout the regular season, Lee pitched to a 1.69 ERA over 10 2/3 innings in nine outings against the Lions. He allowed two runs, both via solo home runs by Kim Seong-yoon and Lewin Diaz. The Lions topped the regular season with 161 home runs, and their home stadium, Daegu Samsung Lions Park, is considered the most hitter-friendly park in the KBO.
Lee noted his concern about the Lions’ speed on the bases, particularly with players like Kim Seong-yoon and Kim Ji-chan, who stole 26 and 22 bases, respectively. “It won’t be the strangest thing to give up home runs to Diaz. The key will be to minimize the damage after home runs,” Lee said. “The most important thing for me is not to let speedy guys get on base, especially if they are leading off an inning.”
To prepare for the postseason, Lee sought advice from seasoned veterans on the pitching staff, Noh Kyung-eun and Kim Kwang-hyun. They advised him to enjoy these games and treat them like a bonus after the regular season, a sentiment Lee found easier said than done.
Among position players, center fielder Choi Ji-hoon, at 28, is a young veteran with a Korean Series ring and 29 postseason plate appearances. He expressed confidence in his younger teammates about to make their first postseason appearances, noting that none had asked him for advice, which he took as a sign of their readiness.
Choi recalled his own nerves before his first postseason game three years ago but emphasized that he now enjoys these games more. He predicted that if the Landers win the opening game Thursday, they would likely complete a three-game sweep in Daegu.
The Lions’ starter for Thursday, Choi Won-tae, had a 3.18 ERA in five regular-season starts against the Landers this year. Choi Ji-hoon struggled against him, going only 1-for-15, but remained optimistic about the series, saying, “I know he pitched really well against us this year so I am most worried about this game. But if we win this game, then I think it will be a short series for us.”