The curtain has fallen on the 2025 regular season of the KBO League, and what a ride it’s been! After months of high-octane baseball, jaw-dropping records, and plenty of drama, the stage is set for one of the most intriguing Korean Series finals in recent memory. The Samsung Lions, fresh off a four-game winning streak and a 5-0 shutout against the KIA Tigers on September 30, have clinched fourth place and secured their postseason ticket. But as the dust settles, fans across the country are buzzing: who will Samsung face in the all-important Wild Card decider—NC Dinos or KT Wiz?
Let’s rewind a bit. The 2025 season, which began in March, saw each team grind through a grueling 144-game schedule. It was a year defined by both individual brilliance and intense team rivalries. On October 4, the regular season officially wrapped up, and the playoff picture began to crystallize. Samsung’s postseason qualification was sealed not just by their own victory, but also by KT Wiz’s defeat of the NC Dinos on the same day. Yet, the fifth and final playoff spot remained up for grabs, hinging on NC’s last regular-season contest.
Depending on that result, the Wild Card showdown could feature either the NC Dinos—who’ve had the upper hand against Samsung this year with a 9-7 record—or the KT Wiz, who have struggled against the Lions, going 5-11 in head-to-head matchups. The numbers tell an interesting story. Against NC, Samsung has managed to outscore their opponents, posting an average of 6.6 runs while allowing 5.4. Their offense, particularly the long ball, has kept NC’s pitching staff on its toes. On the flip side, KT has proven to be a tougher nut to crack, as Samsung’s bats have only managed 4.8 runs per game, while their pitchers have given up 5.3.
Home field advantage could play a decisive role. The Wild Card decider will be hosted at Daegu Samsung Lions Park, a venue where Samsung has enjoyed a 6-3 record against NC but has stumbled to a 1-3 mark versus KT. Given these splits, it’s no wonder Samsung fans are hoping for a Wild Card clash with NC rather than KT, especially with postseason pressure mounting.
Pitching, as always, will be pivotal. Samsung is expected to send Ariel Jurado to the mound for the opening game of the Wild Card series. Jurado has been a force against NC, racking up a 3-0 record with a stingy 2.10 ERA in four starts. Against KT, he’s still solid—posting a 2-1 record and a 3.26 ERA—but not quite as dominant. NC, meanwhile, faces a bit of a dilemma. Their ace, Riley Thompson, is slated to start the season finale against SSG Landers, making him an unlikely option for the first Wild Card game. Instead, the Dinos may turn to Logan Allen or Shin Min-hyuk, both of whom have had sufficient rest. Allen has struggled against Samsung, with no decisions and a 5.91 ERA in two starts, and his second-half numbers (2-4, 7.04 ERA in 13 games) have been less than stellar. Shin Min-hyuk has fared better, with a 2-1 record and a 3.78 ERA in four outings against the Lions.
There’s also the X-factor: Koo Chang-mo. He dazzled in relief against KT, tossing four scoreless innings and striking out nine. If NC clinches their playoff spot early, they might save Koo for the Wild Card, giving Samsung another headache.
KT Wiz, should they advance, can counter with either Enmanuel De Jesus or Ko Young-pyo—both rested since their last regular-season appearances. De Jesus has been a Lion-tamer, going 3-1 with a microscopic 1.44 ERA against Samsung this season. Ko Young-pyo’s numbers are solid as well, with a 1-1 record and a 3.91 ERA in four games against the Lions. There’s even a possibility that Oh Won-seok, who pitched just a third of an inning on October 3, could be used as a wildcard out of the bullpen. Patrick, who threw nearly eight innings against Hanwha on October 3, is a long shot for Game 1 but could make a cameo later in the series, especially against left-handed hitters.
While the drama of the postseason builds, the 2025 regular season was also a showcase for individual excellence. Cody Pohnse of the Hanwha Eagles dominated the pitching landscape, claiming four major crowns: ERA (1.89), wins (17-1), strikeouts (252), and win percentage (0.944). His strikeout total shattered the previous single-season record set by Ariel Miranda in 2021. Pohnse’s only blemish? He couldn’t quite clinch sole possession of the wins title, as Riley Thompson of NC Dinos matched him with a 17-7 record after a late surge on the final day.
On the offensive side, Samsung’s own Lewin Diaz was the undisputed slugger of the year. Diaz posted a .314 average, crushed 50 home runs, and drove in a KBO-record 158 runs, surpassing Park Byung-ho’s previous mark of 146 set in 2015. Not only did Diaz become the first foreign player to hit 50 homers in a KBO season, but he also led the league in slugging and RBIs, making him a frontrunner for MVP honors.
Elsewhere, Doosan’s Yang Eui-ji claimed his third career batting title with a .337 average, edging out rookie sensation Ahn Hyun-min of KT Wiz by just three points. Yang’s achievement is historic—he’s now the only catcher to win two KBO batting crowns. Victor Reyes of the Lotte Giants led the league in hits for a second straight year, while LG Twins’ Park Hae-min reclaimed the stolen base crown for the first time since 2018. And let’s not forget Ahn Hyun-min, who led the league with a .448 on-base percentage, signaling the arrival of a new star.
With the regular season’s statistical fireworks and the playoff race coming down to the wire, anticipation for the Korean Series is sky-high. Will Samsung’s recent momentum carry them through the Wild Card and into the finals? Or will NC or KT find another gear and spoil the party in Daegu?
One thing’s for sure—the 2025 KBO postseason promises more drama, more records, and more unforgettable moments. The only thing left is to play ball and see who rises to the occasion.
