Doosan Bears manager Kim Won-hyong refuses

Doosan Bears manager Kim Won-hyong said on Friday, August 28, 2026, that he will not let his guard down until his team officially clinches a postseason ticket. The Bears are comfortably holding the fifth and final playoff spot in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) with 29 games left in the regular season.

Speaking at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, Kim revealed his persistent anxiety. "I can never seem to relax. I think that is both my strength and my weakness," the manager said. "I have never been able to relax, either as a player or as a manager. I would love to be less anxious."

Postseason Position and Standings

At the time of his comments, the Bears held an eight-game lead over their closest pursuers, the NC Dinos. The Bears' win-loss-tie record stood at 59-52-4. The Dinos, with a record of 49-58-2, had six games in hand on the Bears. Despite this substantial lead in the standings, Kim insisted it was no time for complacency.

"I believe that we are capable of being in a better position," Kim stated. "That is why I can never take my foot off the pedal." When asked if he had a specific ranking goal, the manager said he would keep that to himself.

Asian Games Disruption Looms

Kim said losing key players during the upcoming Asian Games will significantly impact how the Bears' season plays out. Each KBO club was asked to send up to three players to the national team for the Asian Games baseball tournament, which runs from September 21 to 27. National team members will report to training camp on September 14, but the KBO regular season will not pause during the continental competition.

The Bears will be hit particularly hard. Their two best starting pitchers, Gwak Been and Choi Min-seok, and their batting average leader, Park Jun-soon, have been called up for national team duty. This loss will test the depth of the Bears' squad.

"My anxiety level will go up a few notches during the Asian Games," manager Kim admitted. "This is no time to relax." The team's performance during this period, without key contributors from its stats leaders, could define its final playoff seeding. The manager's focus remains on navigating this challenge and securing wins, according to the source report from Yonhap News Agency.