GWANGJU: The Samsung Lions, trailing the Kia Tigers in the Korean Series, will face a pivotal elimination game on Monday without their veteran catcher, Kang Min-ho, who is sidelined due to a right hamstring injury. The absence of Kang, a key player in his first Korean Series appearance, adds to the Lions' mounting injury woes as they strive to extend the best-of-seven series. According to Yonhap News Agency, Manager Park Jin-man confirmed Kang's unavailability during a pregame press conference at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field. Kang, 39, has been experiencing discomfort in his right hamstring and will not participate in the game, either as a starter or a pinch hitter. This injury compounds the challenges for the Lions, who are already grappling with a series of injuries to key players. The Lions, down 3-1 in the series, face the daunting task of overcoming their deficit to become only the second team in Korea Baseball Organization history to win a Korean Series title after trailing 3-1. In addition to Kang's a bsence, pitcher Won Tae-in, who started Game 4, is dealing with right shoulder pains and remains sidelined. Despite traveling with the team, Won is experiencing stiffness and is unable to play. Further complicating matters, Koo Ja-wook, the Lions' captain and top hitter during the regular season, remains on the bench due to a left knee injury sustained in an earlier postseason game. Park acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, stating that while Koo is available, his participation is unlikely. The team faces an uphill battle, with injuries disrupting their lineup as they fight to keep their season alive.
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