In the end, it's up to Ponce to attack him? He's the best pitcher in the KBO League, but...

Oct 17, 2025

In the end, it's up to Ponce to attack him? He's the best pitcher in the KBO League, but...
KBO League SSG and Hanwha match held at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 1st. Hanwha Ponce is coming down the mound after pitching in the bottom of the sixth inning. Incheon = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.10.01/



In the end, it's up to Ponce to attack him? He's the best pitcher in the KBO League, but...
4th semi-PO match between SSG and Samsung held at Daegu Lions Park on the 14th. Samsung manager Park Jin-man is watching batting training in the outfield. Daegu = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.10.14/
"Since he's the best pitcher in the KBO League...."

The Samsung Lions will play the first round of the postseason playoffs against the Hanwha Eagles at Hanwha Life Ball Park in Daejeon on the 17th.

Samsung is continuing its long journey. After finishing the regular season in fourth place, he succeeded in advancing to the semi-playoff after playing against the NC Dinos in the wild card game.




Samsung, which met SSG Landers in the semi-playoff, succeeded in advancing to the playoffs for the second consecutive year by winning and losing two games.

With the completion of the semi-playoff with Game 4, Samsung will be able to take two days off.

The Hanwha Eagles played Cody Ponce as the starting pitcher for Game 1. Ponce went 17-1 with a 1.89 ERA in 29 appearances this season. For the first time in the KBO League, he won the opening 17 consecutive games and reached the top of the list. In addition, he recorded 252 strikeouts, setting a new record for the most strikeouts in KBO league history.




He was also strong against Samsung. He played one game and recorded six hits, one walk, eight strikeouts and no runs in six innings.

In the previous playoffs, the probability that the winning team of the first round will advance to the Korean Series was 76.5% (26 out of 34). At a time when the head start is important, Ponce's attack became the key.

When there was talk of Ponce preparation, Samsung coach Park Jin-man said, `How should I attack Ponce"He is the best pitcher in the KBO League." The pitch is so good and there are so many pitches. If the count is unfavorable, the batter is not good, so I think I should hit it actively."




Coach Park continued "Since Ponce is also a person, there will be a real pitch, and I think the point is to make the real pitch into an in-play ball somehow. Ponce is the best pitcher in the KBO league, but I hope he will be shaken by that atmosphere because it is his first postseason game."

The experience of dealing with him once is expected to be helpful. Coach Park said "Season? I think hitters will know well because they played against each other once." I have good pitching, and there are a lot of pitches, so I will be able to actively deal with them" he said.

In the end, it's up to Ponce to attack him? He's the best pitcher in the KBO League, but...
4th semi-PO match between SSG and Samsung held at Daegu Lions Park on the 14th. Kim Young-woong, who suffered a back injury, is watching the game from the bench. Daegu = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.10.14/
Samsung formed the starting lineup in the order of Kim Ji-chan (center fielder), Kim Sung-yoon (right wing), Koo Ja-wook (designated hitter), Lewin Diaz (first baseman), Kim Young-woong (third baseman), Lee Jae-hyun (striker), Kim Tae-hoon (left wing), Kang Min-ho (catcher), and Ryu Ji-hyuk (second baseman). The starting pitcher is Kherson Garavito.



This article was translated by Naver AI translator.