“They said he couldn’t make it at 163 cm” ... Samsung’s bold choice six years ago: Two undersized giants pave the way to the Korean Series

[Financial News] Six years ago, an email arrived from the mother of a high school baseball player.
It was a message she sent after reading an article I had written about Samsung Lions rookie Kim Ji-chan.

“Our child is very small in stature. But watching Kim Ji-chan gave them the confidence that they could do it, and these days they’re focusing on building strength.”
At the time, Kim Ji-chan was a rookie who stood just 163 cm tall. Although he had dominated the high school game—sweeping the batting, stolen-base and fielding awards at the World Youth Championship—he had to contend with prejudiced views at the very narrow gateway to professional baseball: “He’s too small to survive.”
Around the same time, left-handed pitcher Lee Seung-min, known in Daegu as a “rubber arm,” was also swallowing his disappointment.
He had pitched 160 innings over two years and led his team to a national tournament title, but his prospects of even being drafted were uncertain because he was “small and slow.”

But the Samsung Lions scouting staff saw things differently at the time. Rather than betting on the players’ physical stature or numbers on paper, they boldly backed the real “baseball ability” and “talent” the two showed on the field.
Six years later, on Nov. 1, 2026, at Daegu Samsung Lions Park, the two players spectacularly shattered the doubts the world had once cast on them. One propelled the Lions to the Korean Series (KS) with a fierce bat and blazing speed; the other, as an unshakable left-hander.
In Game 5 of the playoff (PO) against the Kia Tigers, Kim Ji-chan turned in a phenomenal 3-for-4 performance with 3 RBIs and 3 runs, leading his team to a dominant 6-1 victory and earning Daily MVP honors.
He hit .315 over 134 regular-season games this year without a single home run, but completely dominated the field with his precise contact and knack for putting pressure on opponents after reaching base, including a two-run single and a stolen base in the bottom of the second and a clinching triple in the bottom of the sixth.

Lee Seung-min’s dedication shone even brighter. He appeared in all five PO games and delivered dominant pitching: 51⁄3 innings, 3 hits allowed, 2 walks, a 1.69 ERA and 2 holds.
He took the mound at every critical moment against Kia’s formidable left-handed lineup, including Kim Do-yeong and Na Sung-bum, and served as a perfect fireman. Manager Park Jin-man went so far as to praise him directly, saying, “Lee Seung-min is the unsung MVP of this series.”
Kim Ji-chan is not a conventional slugger, and Lee Seung-min is not a fireballer who throws well over 150 km/h. To overcome their physical limitations, they pushed their individual strengths and game-management skills to the limit, and Samsung firmly believed those intangible qualities would serve them well in the professional game.

More than just a personal success, the two players’ rise in the face of prejudice is the strongest proof of hope for the many young players who are still sweating it out while lamenting their own physical stature.
Six years ago, Samsung wasn’t simply drafting “small players.” The scouting staff’s foresight in recognizing players capable of playing the biggest baseball is now setting its sights on the long-awaited V9.

[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter