SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) — LG Twins manager Youm Kyoung-youb stressed on Sunday his players will be just as desperate to win the South Korean baseball championship as their opponents, the Hanwha Eagles, even though the Twins are just two years removed from their most recent title.
The two clubs will open the best-of-seven Korean Series with Game 1 at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Sunday. The Twins are trying to win their second title in three seasons, having captured the 2023 trophy. The Eagles, meanwhile, are going for their first Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) championship since 1999. Their 66-year-old manager, Kim Kyung-moon, is also chasing his first Korean Series title.
The common perception surrounding this series is that the Eagles will be the more desperate side, but Youm tried to dispel that notion in his pregame media availability.
LG Twins manager Youm Kyoung-youb speaks to reporters before Game 1 of the Korean Series against the Hanwha Eagles at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Oct. 26, 2025. (Yonhap)
“We were able to win in 2023 because everyone on the team, all the way from the front office and down to the players and the coaching staff, had that sense of desperation and urgency until the very end,” Youm said. “I’ve told the players before this year’s series that we have to adopt the same mindset and never give up, even if we go down by 10 runs. One moment of complacency can cause huge problems, and I’ve told the team that we have to stay locked in and stay desperate in every game.”
The Twins had the best record in the regular season and earned a bye to the Korean Series. They had the most productive offense in the regular season by several metrics, but the Eagles boasted the KBO’s best pitching staff.
“We won the 2023 title thanks to our hitting, but that’s really rare. If you look at the history of the Korean Series, teams with great pitching often won,” Youm said. “Hanwha definitely has that. So I think the series will go six or seven games.”
Youm identified his American slugger Austin Dean as the key player of the series. Dean batted .300 with four home runs in 16 games against the Eagles in the regular season and launched 31 home runs, just one shy of a career high, despite playing in just 116 of 144 games.
“He’s been swinging the bat well lately,” Youm said. “When he struggles, it tends to bring the rest of the lineup down.”
Dean is the Twins’ everyday first baseman, but he will be their designated hitter Sunday. Third baseman Moon Bo-gyeong will take over at first base, and glove-first utility player Gu Bon-hyeok will get the start at the hot corner.
Kim, the Eagles manager, also predicted a long series and said stealing the first game on the road Sunday could be the key for his team.
Kim also said the Twins could be rusty after a three-week layoff, while the Eagles had to win a five-game series against the Samsung Lions to reach the championship round.
“It would be better for us if we can clinch the title fast, but we also think this could go seven games. The first game will be crucial,” Kim said. “The Twins may be well prepared, but they may not be as sharp after their extended break. If we can take the opener, this will be a really fun series.”
The manager said his starter for Sunday, Moon Dong-ju, will be kept on a long leash.
“If he’s on a roll, we will keep him on the mound. I feel like he can go at least five innings here,” Kim said. “And then we will decide what to do with him based on the game situation.”
Rookie right-hander Jeong Woo-joo, who made his first postseason start in the previous series Wednesday, will go back to the bullpen, Kim added.
“He can be the first pitcher out of the bullpen, coming in right after our starter,” the manager said. “Or he can take the ball a little later in the game.”
Hanwha Eagles manager Kim Kyung-moon speaks during the Korean Series Media Day at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Oct. 25, 2025. (Yonhap)
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