In brief
After trail 2‑1 in the best‑of‑seven Korean Series, KT Wiz manager Lee Kang‑chul called on Ahn Hyun‑min to hit better and listed a lineup shuffle. Ahn’s postseason performance has fallen below his usual .440+ on‑base percentage, prompting a scramble to spark the offense. Lee said the situation is critical and hopes a new hitter can create opportunities for the big bats.
In the 2026 Korean Series, KT Wiz manager Lee Kang‑chul issued his first push for more offense on Saturday as his team trails the Samsung Lions 2‑1 in the best‑of‑seven series.
Lee moved veteran Kim Hyun‑soo up to the No. 3 slot in a jostle that left Ahn Hyun‑min batting second behind regular‑season RBI leader Sam Hilliard. When the shuffle didn’t spark a run frenzy, Lee dropped Ahn back into the No. 3 spot for Friday’s fixture, a change that left the lineup spot on the second string for the next game.
After seeing a three‑hit collapse that yielded a 5‑1 loss, Lee cut to the chase and told the team, “Hilliard is in great form, but we need Hyun‑min to get on base more often in front of him to give him RBI opportunities.”
“Because Hyun‑min is not reaching base much, our offense has lacked flow. We had seven hits last night and still lost (5‑1).”
Lee added that a new No. 2 hitter, outfielder Jang Jin‑hyuk, had gone 2‑for‑2 in limited action this series, and that “Hopefully, Jang Jin‑hyuk will get on base for the big bats behind him, and we can score more runs that way.”
Ahn’s 2025 Rookie of the Year season saw 22 homers, 80 RBI, and a .448 on‑base percentage. This year he’s hit 14 homers in 94 games, but his Series on‑base percentage has dipped to .267—the lowest of his career so far. Lee said that star slugger’s slump is “a lot to be desired for the Wiz,” and that the moment demands a shift to new hitters if the team is to change the momentum.
With the CW (KBO) Series clock ticking, KT aims to galvanize through lineup reshuffles and a sharper offensive plan—highlighting the manager’s frank take on a player who has led the league in base‑on‑base for two consecutive seasons.
