Seoul:LG Twins player Austin Dean marked his 33rd birthday with a significant contribution to his team's 4-1 victory over the Doosan Bears in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason at Jamsil Baseball Stadium. Dean hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning, which proved pivotal in the Twins' wild card win.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Dean's home run came off the sixth pitch of his first at-bat against Doosan's starting pitcher Gwak Been. Spotting a hanging curveball, Dean took a decisive swing, sending the ball deep into the left-field stands. Despite striking out in his subsequent three at-bats, his early contribution earned him the title of Player of the Game.
Dean's performance came after a regular season where he led the Twins with a career-high 41 home runs. However, he had struggled recently, hitting only two home runs with a .200 batting average in October before this game. His difficulties extended to previous postseason performances, notably in the 2025 Korean Series and the 2024 second round, where he had a poor batting average.
Reflecting on the significance of playing on his birthday, Dean remarked on the rarity and joy of hitting a home run on such a day, emphasizing the importance of spending time with family.
Looking ahead, the Twins will face the Kia Tigers, led by Kim Do-yeong, who recently won the home run title over Dean. Dean acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating that the focus in the postseason is on teamwork and winning games, rather than individual statistics.