Samsung Lions Dominate Hanwha Eagles 12-3 in 2026 KBO Preseason Opener

[Sports Today reporter Shin Seo-young] The Samsung Lions opened the 2026 exhibition season with a decisive win.

On March 12 at Daejeon Baseball Stadium, Samsung routed the Hanwha Eagles 12-3 in the opener of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League exhibition games.

The victory gave Samsung a feel-good start to the new season, while Hanwha begins spring play with a loss.

Starter Yang Chang-seop worked four innings, allowed two hits, struck out three and did not allow a run, earning the win.

Samsung’s offense came alive, piling up 15 hits and 12 runs. Kim Seong-yun went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, and Lee Seong-kyu, Diaz, Kang Min-ho and Ryu Ji-hyuk each had multi-hit games.

Hanwha starter Wang Yen-cheng took the loss, lasting three innings while yielding two hits, issuing five walks, striking out three and allowing three runs.

Samsung struck first. In the top of the first, leadoff man Kim Ji-chan battled Wang Yen-cheng through a nine-pitch at-bat and drew a walk. Kim Seong-yun followed with a single to center, and Choi Hyung-woo was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Diaz then hit a sacrifice fly to left that brought Kim Ji-chan home. After Kim Young-woong struck out, Lee Jae-hyun drew a walk to reload the bases, and Kang Min-ho delivered a two-run RBI single to left, putting Samsung up 3-0.

Samsung kept the pressure on. In the top of the fourth, Kang Min-ho and Ryu Ji-hyuk hit back-to-back singles to set up a no-out, first-and-second situation. Jeon Byung-woo and Kim Ji-chan then popped out to the outfield to bring up two outs, but Kim Seong-yun battled out an infield single and a throwing error by the third baseman allowed Kang Min-ho to score. Lee Seong-kyu and Diaz followed with consecutive first-pitch RBI hits, extending the lead to 6-0.

Hanwha countered in the bottom of the fifth. Leadoff hitter Ha Joo-seok doubled to left off reliever Kim Tae-hoon. Heo In-seo then ripped an opposite-field double, and Shim Woo-joon drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases with no outs. Although Oh Jae-won struck out swinging, Ha Joo-seok scored on Peraza’s grounder, cutting the deficit to 6-1.

Samsung answered again in the seventh. Diaz singled to center-left and Kim Young-woong drew a walk to put runners on first and second with no outs. Hanwha pulled Kang Geon-woo and brought in Kang Jae-min, but Lee Jae-hyun ripped an opposite-field double to bring in the runner from second. Samsung added two more runs on a groundout by Park Jin-woo and an RBI single by Ryu Ji-hyuk, pushing the lead to 9-1.

Hanwha chipped away in the bottom of the eighth when Jang Gyu-hyun doubled and Lee Jin-young launched a two-run homer to make it 9-3. But Samsung put the game out of reach in the top of the ninth: Kim Heon-gon singled, and walks to Park Jin-woo and Shim Jae-hoon loaded the bases with no outs. RBI hits by Jeon Byung-woo and Kim Tae-hoon produced three more runs and effectively sealed the game.

With the win secure, Samsung summoned closer Yuk Sun-yeop for the bottom of the ninth. Yuk retired the side in order, preserving the 12-3 victory.

[Sports Today reporter Shin Seo-young sports@stoo.com]
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