GWANGJU: South Korean baseball’s top ERA pitcher and its wins leader are set to face off as the Korean Series begins Monday, promising a thrilling start to the championship battle. The Kia Tigers, led by ERA leader James Naile, will take on the Samsung Lions, with Wins leader Won Tae-in, in a best-of-seven series held in Gwangju, the Tigers’ home city.
According to Yonhap News Agency, during the Korean Series media day on Sunday, Tigers manager Lee Bum-ho confirmed that right-hander James Naile will be the Game 1 starter. Lions manager Park Jin-man announced right-hander Won Tae-in as his starter for the opening game, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Gwangju-Kia Champions Field. Naile, in his debut Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season, led pitchers with a 2.53 ERA in 149 1/3 innings, achieving a 12-5 record in 26 starts.
Naile’s promising season was interrupted on August 24 when he suffered a broken jaw after a line drive hit from NC Dinos’ Matt Davidson. Despite this setback, the Tigers’ top regular-seas
on performance secured them a bye to the Korean Series, allowing Naile ample recovery time. Lee expressed confidence in Naile, stating, “He was the best pitcher in the league this season. He’s in perfect health and will be our key player.”
While Naile’s regular-season statistics against the Lions were less stellar with a 4.09 ERA in two starts, he managed to strike out 14 over 11 innings. Lions’ hitters Kang Min-ho and Kim Young-woong each homered off Naile, with David MacKinnon, no longer on the team, also achieving multiple hits.
Won Tae-in, at 24, is set to pitch in his first Korean Series. He matched the league lead with 15 wins and posted a 3.66 ERA, the best among South Korean pitchers this year. In the previous playoff round, Won was pivotal in the Lions’ victory over the LG Twins, delivering a 6 2/3 inning performance with only one run allowed. Park praised his pitcher, stating, “Won Tae-in led the league in wins, and there’s no need for further explanation.”
The Tigers’ offense presents a formidab
le challenge for Won, as hitters Na Sung-bum and Choi Hyoung-woo have strong records against him, each batting 3-for-6 with a double. Kim Do-yeong, a leading MVP candidate, also fared well against Won with a 2-for-4 record, a triple, and two walks.