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| Photo: Kwon Kwang-il |
[Songpa-gu — Sports Today reporter Kang Tae-gu] Media Day officially opened the 2026 KBO season.
The Korea Baseball Organization’s 10 clubs convened for the 2026 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League Media Day on the 26th at Lotte Hotel World in Songpa-gu, Seoul.
Managers from all 10 clubs and 20 designated player representatives attended the event.
Representing each club were: LG Twins — Park Hae-min and Lim Chan-gyu; Hanwha Eagles — Chae Eun-seong and Moon Hyun-bin; SSG Landers — Oh Tae-gon and Cho Byung-hyun; Samsung Lions — Koo Ja-wook and Kang Min-ho; NC Dinos — Park Min-woo and Kim Joo-won; KT Wiz — Jang Sung-woo and Ahn Hyun-min; Lotte Giants — Jeon Jun-woo and Jeon Min-jae; KIA Tigers — Na Sung-bum and Yang Hyeon-jong; Doosan Bears — Yang Eui-ji and Kwak Bin; and Kiwoom Heroes — Lim Ji-yeol and Ha Young-min.
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| Park Hae-min — Manager Yeom Kyung-yeop — Lim Chan-gyu / Photo: Kwon Kwang-il |
Before the main program, each manager delivered a brief opening statement.
Defending champion LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop said, \”After our 2025 title, we’ve worked hard with the goal of defending the crown. This season will be challenging at times, but if fans keep encouraging the players, we believe we can make a legitimate run at a repeat. We’ll give our best in every game.\”
Hanwha manager Kim Kyung-moon, whose team narrowly missed the title last season, said, \”If our pitchers won us games last year, we need the hitters to carry more of the load this season. We’ll aim to put on an exciting product.\”
SSG manager Lee Soong-yong reflected on last year: \”We defied expectations and finished third. The postseason left us wanting more, and this year we’ll do everything to stay in it until the end.\”
Samsung manager Park Jin-man was direct: \”Our roster will chase the championship this season with fierce determination. We ask fans to get behind us and help push the team to a title.\”
NC manager Lee Ho-joon pointed to late-season momentum: \”We closed last year with a nine-game streak and showed what this team can be. We’ve focused on unity in the offseason — playing as one will get us results more than relying on individual performances.\”
KT manager Lee Kang-cheol unveiled the club’s theme: \”Our slogan is ‘Big-Inning’ — a play on ‘big inning’ and ‘beginning.’ We feel like a reborn team and plan to show strong baseball this year.\”
Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung acknowledged turbulence but expressed confidence: \”We’ve been through a lot recently, but I see a tougher group this year. We’ll ride that momentum into a push for fall baseball.\”
KIA manager Lee Beom-ho said, \”We’ve experienced highs and lows over the past two seasons. In 2026, we’re erasing the past and forming a new unity to chase better results.\”
Doosan manager Kim Won-hyung, returning to the dugout after two years, said, \”I’m back to instill a strong sense of purpose. I want Doosan to rebuild toward dynasty-level success.\”
Kiwoom manager Seol Jong-jin promised an aggressive approach: \”We want Kiwoom baseball this year to surprise people. We’ve worked to fix last year’s shortcomings and will take on new challenges. We’ve prepared thoroughly and will fight to win many games.\”
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| Manager Lee Ho-joon / Photo: Kwon Kwang-il |
Opening-day starters for games on the 28th were also announced. Aside from NC’s Koo Chang-mo, every scheduled starter is an international signing.
At Incheon’s SSG Landers Field, SSG will start Mitch White against KIA’s James Naile.
At Seoul’s Jamsil Stadium, LG will send Yoni Chirinos to the mound while KT counters with Matt Sauer.
At Daegu’s Samsung Lions Park, Samsung plans to start Ariel Jurado, and Lotte will go with Elvin Rodriguez.
At Changwon NC Park, NC will give the ball to Koo Chang-mo — the lone domestic starter on opening day — while Doosan will turn to the returning Chris Flexen.
At Daejeon’s Hanwha Life Ballpark, Hanwha will start Wilkel Hernandez and Kiwoom will send out Raúl Alcántara.
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| Photo: Kwon Kwang-il |
The players also offered lighthearted victory pledges.
Kiwoom’s Lim Ji-yeol and Ha Young-min said, \”We usually host a charity café after the season, but space limits attendance. This year we’ll expand it so more fans can join.\”
Doosan’s Yang Eui-ji and Kwak Bin pledged to rent a café and spend quality time with supporters.
KIA’s Na Sung-bum and Yang Hyeon-jong said, \”There’s a coffee brand inside our ballpark. After the season, players will bake bread and serve coffee to fans.\”
Lotte’s Jeon Jun-woo and Jeon Min-jae promised to act as guides for fans touring Busan, wrapping up the day with a ballpark barbecue.
KT’s Jang Sung-woo and Ahn Hyun-min joked, \”After the season we’ll invite fans to the stadium for a joint fitness program. If we reach the postseason, we’ll bring fans into our weight sessions.\”
NC’s Park Min-woo and Kim Joo-won said they will book a restaurant to spend time with fans after the season — and, yes, the meat will be beef.
Samsung’s Koo Ja-wook and Kang Min-ho said, \”We think this is our year. We’ll gather 1,000 fans and take them to Everland together.\”
Hanwha’s Chae Eun-seong and Moon Hyun-bin said, \”After rewarding fans with good results, we’ll produce YouTube content with Eagles TV.\”
Finally, LG’s Park Hae-min and Lim Chan-gyu admitted they hadn’t planned a consolation pledge: \”Last year, after winning, we held a barbecue and beer party. If we win again, the team president has offered to personally treat fans to whiskey and other drinks at the final Jamsil game.\”
[Sports Today reporter Kang Tae-gu sports@stoo.com]
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