Samsung Reliever Lee Seung-min Targets Revenge Against Kia Tigers in KBO Postseason

DAEGU — The Samsung Lions and the Kia Tigers will have to wait an extra day to begin their highly anticipated best-of-five second-round series in the Korea Baseball Organization postseason, after persistent rainfall forced the postponement of Sunday's scheduled series opener at Daegu Samsung Lions Park. The game, originally slated for a Sunday afternoon start, has been rescheduled for Monday evening, with the winner of the series earning a place in the Korean Series against KT Wiz. The unexpected rain delay provides a brief pause before a high-stakes showdown defined by lingering rivalry, bullpen reshuffles, and tactical dilemmas for both clubs.For Samsung reliever Lee Seung-min, the matchup with the Tigers carries deep personal significance. Two years ago, during his postseason debut in his first year of KBO playoff action, Lee experienced the heartbreak of seeing the Lions fall to the Tigers in the Korean Series. In that championship clash, the left-hander made two relief appearances and allowed one run over 3 1/3 innings as Kia ultimately lifted the trophy in five games. The sight of the Tigers celebrating on the field remained fixed in Lee's mind, serving as a powerful source of motivation as the two teams meet once again in October baseball.Reflecting on that defeat, Lee explained that watching the opposition celebrate left him angry and taught him a stark lesson about professional sports, noting that second-place finishers are quickly forgotten. The 26-year-old expressed a strong desire to settle the score this autumn, emphasizing that his goal is to help Samsung claim the championship trophy so another team is left watching the Lions celebrate on the field instead.Lee enters this postseason on the heels of a career-defining regular season. Establishing himself as a core pillar of Samsung's bullpen, the left-hander posted a career-best 2.65 ERA and set personal high marks across the board, making 74 appearances, logging 68 innings pitched, securing 23 holds, and compiling a 6-2 record over his six-year career. Lee was particularly dominant against Kia during the regular season, posting a 1.17 ERA and gathering three holds across eight head-to-head relief appearances.That stellar track record has taken on heightened importance following a major blow to Samsung's pitching staff. On the eve of the series opener, the Lions revealed that All-Star closer Kim Jae-yoon, who led the KBO during the regular season with 35 saves, would be sidelined for up to two weeks with an upper body injury. With fellow left-handed relievers Lee Seung-hyun and Baek Jung-hyun also left off the postseason roster, manager Park Jin-man has been forced to reconfigure his bullpen strategy. While Park announced that the team will employ a closer-by-committee approach, he confirmed that Lee Seung-min will be trusted with the ball in the most critical late-inning situations, hailing him as the team's most reliable reliever.Despite the sudden rise in responsibility, Lee expressed enthusiasm for the challenge, describing it as an honor to be placed in such a pivotal role. The reliever noted that he could not have envisioned occupying this position a few years ago, adding that he intends to pitch with heightened focus and a deeper sense of responsibility regardless of which inning he is called upon to enter. Lee also voiced full confidence in his bullpen teammates, asserting that while Kim Jae-yoon's absence is unfortunate, the remaining pitching staff possesses the depth needed to cover the gap and maintain high morale.Facing Kia will require navigating a powerhouse lineup featuring regular-season home run champion Kim Do-yeong. Kim, who launched 45 home runs during the regular season, continued his impressive form by hitting three more home runs in the first round of the postseason against the LG Twins. Addressing the challenge, Lee stated that he will not shy away from the Tigers' top hitters, asserting his intention to attack the strike zone and execute his pitches rather than pitching around dangerous batters.In addition to bullpen management, Samsung manager Park Jin-man is balancing tricky roster decisions in the lineup. Outfielder Koo Ja-wook, the league's regular-season batting champion, is returning from a hamstring injury but remains restricted to designated hitter duties. To preserve defensive reliability in the outfield, Park elected to keep 42-year-old veteran designated hitter Choi Hyoung-woo on the bench to start the series, though he noted Choi could be called upon as a high-impact pinch hitter as games unfold.The series opener at Daegu Samsung Lions Park is now set for 6:30 p.m. on Monday. Pitchers Chris Paddack for the Samsung Lions and James Naile for the Kia Tigers, who were originally scheduled to duel on Sunday afternoon, are slated to take the mound as both teams launch their bid for a spot in the Korean Series.