Sam Hilliard, the foreign hitter for kt wiz who transformed from facing potential release early in the 2026 season into one of the best hitters in the KBO League, delivered an explosive performance in Game 1 of the Korean Series (KS).

Starting as the cleanup hitter and center fielder in Game 1 of the 2026 professional baseball Korean Series against the Samsung Lions held at Suwon kt wiz park on November 3, Hilliard led his team to an 8-7 victory with a stellar performance going 3-for-4 with one walk, two RBIs, and two runs scored.

He swept both the Daily Most Valuable Player (MVP) award and the Potato Chip-sponsored Today's Batting Feel award, given to the player who hits the game-winning run.

Early in the season, Hilliard struggled immensely as he failed to adapt to the KBO League's Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) and its wider strike zone.

He showed a particular weakness against high pitches inside, leaving his batting average at just 0.232 through April.

At the time, he had the worst performance among foreign hitters across all 10 teams who met the minimum plate appearance requirement.

However, kt manager Lee Kang-chul pulled Hilliard aside for a private meeting and reassured him that he would not be released. Finding his stability and adapting to the ABS, Hilliard reinvented himself as a premier hitter representing the league.

Hilliard lived up to the club's trust.

After winning the KBO Monthly MVP in July, he also claimed the honor for September and October, becoming the first foreign player in a single season to win the Monthly MVP award twice.

Recording a 0.304 batting average, 44 home runs, and 139 RBIs across 142 regular-season games this season, Hilliard shone brightly in his very first Korean Series game on the Korean stage.

In the bottom of the first inning with one out and runners on first and third, he smashed a two-run bases-clearing double into left-center field off Samsung starting pitcher Choi Won-tae, and added an infield hit in the sixth.

Even though the team was comfortably ahead 6-0 with two outs, Hilliard sprinted hard and beat the throw to be called safe.

This play had a decisive impact on the team's victory.

Subsequent batter Kim Hyun-soo hit a home run to add two runs for kt, and those runs ultimately secured a narrow one-run win.

Hilliard also made crucial plays on defense.

In the top of the first inning with no outs and a runner on first, he leapt to catch Park Seung-gyu's batted ball.

Had the ball gotten past him, it could have handed the momentum over early in the game.

In his post-match press conference, Hilliard said, "I had a hard time adjusting to the strike zone early this season, but I was able to adapt by modifying my swing trajectory. I think my adjusted swing brought about good results in today's game as well."

Regarding his defensive play in the first inning, he explained, "If I had missed that, it could have given up runs and even handed over the momentum. I stretched out my hand thinking I had to catch it no matter what."

When asked about his infield hit in the sixth inning, he vowed, "In big games, small plays pile up to create results. I did my best, and it led to a good outcome. I will do my best again in Game 2 tomorrow."

(Photo: Yonhap News)