The Samsung Lions seek the coveted Korean Series Championship after multiple close calls and rebuilding seasons. Last September, they placed fourth, but now set sights for first with new contracts and robust conditioning at spring training.

The Lions brought back Hyung Woo Choi, a star player who left as a free agent to the Kia Tigers back in 2016. Choi returns to Samsung after a decade away, under a two year 2.6 billion won contract. He enters an unprecedented 23rd year in the pros at age 42 and brings veteran leadership and experience to a relatively youthful roster. Fans anticipate Choi’s return, hoping his presence will stabilize the offense and inspire his teammates both on and off the field. 

Baseball critics expect Choi to continue his hot streak from last season with Kia, where he received the Golden Glove Designated Hitter award and achieved a wRC+ (Weighted Runs Created) of 153.6. While among the oldest of all KBO big hitters, his slugging percentage surpasses the league average by over 50 percent. Henry Lee, Samsung Lions fan in seventh grade, said, “I am really excited to see him on the field, wearing the Samsung Lions uniform. He is a great player, and I have high hopes for him.”

The Lions replaced 2025 foreign pitcher Gerson Garabito with Matt Manning from the Detroit Tigers. While Garabito did the job as far as foreign pitchers go, the team sought out someone to improve the starting rotation further as an innings eater. 

Yura Miyaji also joins the Lions, following the increase in the Asian Quota system—a policy that allows teams to sign players from other Asian countries under special roster rules. The KBO implemented this regulation as well, and the Lions signed Miyaji with the goal that his pitching will strengthen the bullpen, which dragged them down in the 2025 season. 

Samsung also re-signed Lewin Diaz with a 2.35 billion won contract. Diaz’s 50-150 record (50 home runs and 150 RBIs), .644 slugging average and above-average defense with only four errors struck fear across the league. He also achieved a wRC+ of 171.3 last season, hitting 71.3% more runs than the league-average hitter. 

Diaz won four awards last year — the Golden Glove, most home runs, most RBIs, and slugging percentage. He placed third in the league in total hits, second in doubles, and eighth in batting average. He tied the record set by Eric Thames, who played for the NC Dinos back in 2015, for the most number of hitting awards. 

Because of his impressive performance, fans hope Diaz will remain in Korea for many seasons to come. Junior Liwen Wang said, “Lions fans always wait for his turn to bat, since he is the strongest batter on the team.”

When Korean fans desire a foreign player to stay on the roster, they jokingly say, “Burn the passport!” to urge them not to sign a contract overseas or to return home. The Lions mascot Bleo played to the crowd and made a spectacle of this at the all-star game last year. Bleo snagged Díaz’s passport and locked it inside a vault. This led to loud applause since Lions fans wished for Díaz to stay.

Aside from Diaz, the Lions will also start the season with the league’s best table setters, Jichan Kim and Seongyoon Kim. Power-hitters Ja Wook Koo, Lewin Diaz, Hyoung Woo Choi, and Yeong Woong Kim strengthen the lineup. Among the nine starting batters, three — Koo, Diaz and Choi — took home Golden Gloves in their respective categories. Seongyoon Kim ranked second among right fielders, following the Lotte Giants’ Victor Reyes. 

Coaching also plays a major role in the development of the Lions. Top KBO defense coach Ju In Son looks to lower the total error count. Lions legend Hani Park returns as batting coach and aims to improve major stats. Pitching coach Choi il Un joins Son and Park to provide synergy under head coach Jin Man Park’s leadership. Their combined efforts are expected to elevate the team’s performance in pitching, batting, and fielding in 2026.

The Lions return to Guam for spring training, continuing the trend from seasons before. In Guam, the focus is basic conditioning, fitness, and teamwork with a cycle of training and recovery. After camp in Guam, the team will fly to Okinawa for a second phase. Training and tune-up games are planned too.

With elite-level batters, experienced veterans in leadership positions, and talented coaches supporting the players, the Samsung Lions prepare for the 2026 season as critics predict they will be one of the strongest teams in the KBO. Their attempt to convert their potential into actual wins remains an unknown variable until the season officially begins. But one thing is certain: The Lions are no longer rebuilding. They are ready to earn the Championship.