KT Manager Lee Kang-chul Laments Early Control Issues After KS Game 3 Loss

Pro Baseball KT Wiz manager Lee Kang-chul pointed to starting pitcher So Hyung-jun’s early control struggles following a 1-5 loss to the Samsung Lions in Game 3 of the Korea Series, as reported by newspim.com. Held at the Daegu Samsung Lions Park on November 6, 2026, the defeat dropped KT to a 1-2 deficit in the best-of-seven championship series. KT won the opening game 8-7 on November 3, but dropped a 2-3 decision in a 12-inning battle in Game 2 on November 4 before yielding the victory in this match as well, leaving the team desperate for a win in Game 4.

So Hyung-Jun Struggles with Walks and High Pitch Count

So Hyung-jun labored through a 103-pitch outing, surrendering four runs on three hits, six strikeouts, and five walks across six innings. While newspim.com noted that So rarely issues free passes during the regular season—where he went 10-3 with a 3.15 ERA across 131.1 innings and never walked more than two batters in a single appearance—the pitcher handed out five walks within the first two frames alone. Lee explained that So’s balance collapsed in the first frame, noting that the pitcher’s arm swing appeared shortened and his pitches consistently missed the strike zone while Samsung starter Ariel Jurado threw without a single mistake. Lee added that Jurado pitched so well that there were virtually no mismanaged pitches, noting that KT’s batters did not fail so much as Jurado simply excelled, and remarked that he even wondered how things might have turned out if Sam Hilliard’s first-inning drive had cleared the fence. After KT took an initial lead in the top of the first inning courtesy of an RBI single by Sam Hilliard, So immediately surrendered the equalizer in the bottom of the first before conceding three more runs in the second frame, which handed the game’s momentum over to Samsung.

Despite the disastrous start, So settled down from two outs in the second inning onward. According to newspim.com, he retired 13 batters from the latter half of the second inning through the sixth, a stretch that manager Lee praised for preserving the team’s bullpen usage.

Mounting Injuries Compound Roster Strain

KT faces significant physical attrition alongside the tactical deficit. 경기일보 reported that outfielder Choi Won-jun missed the starting lineup due to lingering hand swelling after colliding with the outfield fence during Game 2, while infielder Huh Kyung-min sat out with left chest muscle spasms. The physical toll worsened during Game 3 when Ahn Hyun-min felt discomfort in his right ankle while landing awkwardly after attempting to field a deep drive by Koo Ja-wook in the second inning. Lee stated that Choi would be restricted to pinch-hitting duties to prevent further injury, while the team evaluates Ahn and Huh ahead of Game 4. 경기일보 noted further roster complications as Kim Sang-soo missed Game 2 after taking a foul ball off his foot during the opening game before returning for Game 3, adding that Choi batted .356 with 208 hits across 140 regular-season games while Huh batted .330, making their absence from the starting lineup a major blow to the team’s offensive execution.

Rotation Adjustments for Game 4

KT turns to foreign left-hander Logan Allen as the starting pitcher for Game 4 on November 7 at the same venue, as detailed by newspim.com. Allen enters the assignment after allowing two runs in 0.1 innings of relief during Game 1. Lee emphasized that the team will employ a total-war approach to win Game 4, hoping Allen pitches well and the batting order comes alive against Samsung.

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