Kia Tigers vs Samsung Lions Match Player Stats: A Comprehensive Statistical Breakdown

The Kia Tigers vs Samsung Lions match player stats offer a fascinating glimpse into one of South Korea’s most storied baseball rivalries within the KBO League. As of April 9, 2025, their latest high-stakes encounter occurred on October 28, 2024, when the Kia Tigers clinched the Korean Series title with a 7-5 victory over the Samsung Lions in Game 5 at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field. guide dives deep into the player stats from that decisive game, explores historical context, highlights standout performers, and provides insights for fans all optimized to be your ultimate resource for understanding this matchup’s numbers and what they mean for the Kia Tigers and Samsung Lions rivalry.

The Rivalry: Kia Tigers vs Samsung Lions in the KBO

The Kia Tigers and Samsung Lions are titans of the KBO League, with a rivalry steeped in history and competitive fire. The Tigers, based in Gwangju, boast 12 Korean Series titles, including their 2024 triumph, making them the league’s most successful franchise. The Lions, from Daegu, have secured 8 championships, with their last in 2014, and remain a perennial contender. Their head-to-head record since 2012 shows a near-even split, with Kia holding a slight edge at 117 wins to Samsung’s 113 across 233 games (per AiScore). The Kia Tigers vs Samsung Lions match player stats from the 2024 Korean Series Game 5 encapsulate this fierce competition, as Kia sealed a 4-1 series win, cementing their dominance in a historic five-decade championship run.

Game 5 Recap and Key Stats

The Korean Series finale on October 28, 2024, saw the Kia Tigers overcome an early deficit to defeat the Samsung Lions 7-5 in front of a sold-out crowd of 19,300 at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field. This game, detailed by MyKBO Stats and WBSC.org, showcased individual heroics and team resilience. Below is a detailed breakdown of the Kia Tigers vs Samsung Lions match player stats from this pivotal matchup.

Kia Tigers Player Stats

Hyeon-jong Yang (SP, Veteran)

• Stats: 5 IP, 5 H, 5 R (5 ER), 3 HR, 1 BB, 2 K, 79 pitches
• Highlight: Yang struggled early, allowing two home runs to Lewin Díaz and one to Young-Chul Kim, but kept Kia in the game until their bats woke up.
• Season Context: With a 3.86 ERA in 2024 (KBO stats), Yang’s postseason experience (12th title) shone despite the rough outing.

Hyung-Woo Choi (DH, Veteran)

• Stats: 2-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R
• Highlight: Choi’s solo home run in the first—at 40 years, one month, and 25 days, the oldest to homer in Korean Series history—sparked Kia’s comeback (2-3).
• Season Context: Batting .289 with 19 HRs, Choi’s clutch hitting was key all year.

Do Yeong Kim (3B, Young Star)

• Stats: 2-4, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB
• Highlight: Kim’s fifth-inning single tied the game at 5-5, setting the stage for Kia’s rally.
• Season Context: At 21, Kim’s .341 AVG, 38 HRs, and 109 RBIs earned him 2024 MVP honors (KBO).
  
  Sung Bum Na (RF)
• Stats: 2-4, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB
• Highlight: Na’s sixth-inning single drove in the go-ahead run (6-5), proving his postseason mettle.
• Season Context: With a .305 AVG and 25 HRs, Na’s consistency bolstered Kia’s lineup.
  
  Kwak Do-gyu (RP, Reliever)
• Stats: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K (Win)
• Highlight: Do-gyu’s scoreless 6th and 7th innings earned him the win, stabilizing Kia after Yang’s exit.
• Season Context: A 3.12 ERA in relief made him a postseason standout.
  
  Jung Hai-young (RP, Closer)
• Stats: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K (Save)
• Highlight: Hai-young’s clean 9th inning sealed the 7-5 win and Kia’s 12th title.
• Season Context: With 31 saves and a 2.45 ERA, he’s Kia’s lockdown closer.
  
  Team Totals: 7 R, 13 H, 0 E, 10 BB, 5 K, .317 BA (13-41), 1 HR, 5-11 RISP.
  

Samsung Lions Player Stats

Lewin Díaz (1B, Former MLB)

• Stats: 2-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R
• Highlight: Díaz’s first-inning two-run homer (115m) and third-inning solo shot gave Samsung a 5-2 lead, setting a KBO postseason record for consecutive games with multi-HR (WBSC).
• Season Context: Batting .282 with 27 HRs, Díaz was Samsung’s power threat.

• Young-Chul Kim (CF, Rookie)
• Stats: 1-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R
• Highlight: At 21 years, two months, and four days, Kim became the youngest Korean Series home run hitter with a third-inning solo shot (5-2).
• Season Context: A .275 AVG and 12 HRs marked his breakout year.
  
  Ji-chan Kim (2B)
• Stats: 0-3, 1 BB, 1 R
• Highlight: Kim’s first-inning walk set up Díaz’s homer, though he went hitless thereafter.
• Season Context: With a .312 AVG and 11 HRs, he’s Samsung’s leadoff spark.
  
  Won-ki Lee (SP)
• Stats: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 5 R (5 ER), 4 BB, 3 K, 95 pitches
• Highlight: Lee faltered in the fifth, allowing Kia to tie it at 5-5 before exiting.
• Season Context: A 4.12 ERA showed his inconsistency despite a solid rookie year.
  
  Sang-min Lee (RP, Reliever)
• Stats: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 0 K (Loss)
• Highlight: Sang-min’s sixth-inning struggles gave Kia the 6-5 lead he couldn’t reclaim.
• Season Context: A 3.89 ERA in relief reflected his middle-tier reliability.
  
  Team Totals: 5 R, 5 H, 0 E, 5 BB, 6 K, .156 BA (5-32), 3 HR, 1-4 RISP.

Game Recap: Stats Tell the Tale

The Kia Tigers vs Samsung Lions match player stats from Game 5 reveal a game of momentum swings. Samsung struck first with Díaz’s two-run homer (115m) off Yang, taking a 3-0 lead. Choi’s solo shot cut it to 3-1, but Díaz and Kim’s third-inning homers pushed it to 5-2. Kia’s fifth-inning rally—three runs on hits by Kim and Na—tied it at 5-5, exploiting Lee’s 4 walks. Na’s sixth-inning RBI single gave Kia a 6-5 edge, and Ho-seong Lee’s eighth-inning sacrifice fly padded it to 7-5. Kia’s 13 hits and 5-11 RISP dwarfed Samsung’s 5 hits and 1-4, while Do-gyu and Hai-young’s relief work outshone Samsung’s bullpen collapse.

Historical Context: Stats Through the Years

The Kia Tigers vs Samsung Lions match player stats reflect a rivalry with shifting tides. In their 2023 regular-season series, Kia won 9 of 16 games (Matchstat), with Do Yeong Kim’s 175 RBIs over two years shining. Samsung’s 2014 title run saw Kim Sang-su’s clutch hitting, but Kia’s 2024 postseason dominance (4-1 series) flipped the script. Past Korean Series clashes like Kia’s 1987 home clinch echoed in 2024, with Kia’s 12-0 title record intact.

Standout Performers: Who Defined the Game

• Lewin Díaz (Samsung): His 2 HRs and 3 RBIs nearly stole the show, but Samsung’s lack of support doomed him.
• Do Yeong Kim (Kia): His MVP-caliber tying hit in the fifth turned the tide.
• Hyung-Woo Choi (Kia): The veteran’s record-setting homer ignited Kia’s offense.
• Jung Hai-young (Kia): His save locked down Kia’s 12th championship.

Team Trends and Insights

• Offense: Kia’s 13 hits vs Samsung’s 5 highlight their depth (Kia .301 BA vs Samsung .269, 2024).
• Power: Samsung’s 3 HRs vs Kia’s 1 show their reliance on long balls (185 HRs vs Kia’s 163).
• Pitching: Kia’s bullpen (2.45 ERA, Hai-young) outclassed Samsung’s (4.68 team ERA).

Season Context

Kia’s 87-55 record and 1st-place finish (KBO) led to their title, while Samsung’s 78-64 (2nd) fell short in the postseason. The Kia Tigers vs Samsung Lions match player stats underscore Kia’s clutch hitting (858 runs) vs Samsung’s pitching struggles (719 runs allowed).

What’s Next

Their April 1, 2025, regular-season opener looms, with Kia’s James Naile (7 shutout innings, April 3, X posts) and Samsung’s young core (Kim, Díaz) set to clash again.

How to Use These Stats

• Fantasy/Betting: Kim (RBIs), Díaz (HRs), and Hai-young (saves) are picks; bet Kia -1.5 if trends hold.
• Fandom: Catch games on ESPN2 or Sofascore for live stats.

Conclusion

The Kia Tigers vs Samsung Lions match player stats from October 28, 2024, crown Kia’s 7-5 win as a testament to their depth and resilience, overcoming Samsung’s early power surge led by Lewin Díaz. As of April 9, 2025, at 9:24 AM PDT, Kia’s 12th title—fueled by Do Yeong Kim’s clutch hits and Jung Hai-young’s save—cements their legacy, while Samsung’s fight signals future battles. Sourced from MyKBO, ESPN, and WBSC, these stats offer fans a lens into a rivalry where every number tells a story. Whether you’re a Tigers loyalist or a Lions hopeful, this matchup’s data promises more epic showdowns in the KBO’s storied tapestry.

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